2022-11 Raynors HCA Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/18/2022
War-date Union soldier's letter, 6pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Alfred A. Thayer, Co. B, 96th Ohio Vols., "Camp of 96th O. V. I., Brunswick City, Louisiana, March 5, 1864," reading, in part: "-left Decrou's Point, Texas Feb. the 27 & crossed the bay near Matagorda Island, Texas. Stayed to nites & one day waiting transportation for Algiers across the river from New Orleans. Went on board Sunday & it came on a storm so we had to lay there till Tuesday-I never seen such a time. The men just vomited all over the boat. The [waves] dashed all over the upper deck. The horses & mules could not stand on their feet. They just swept from side to side 7 the men the same. The ship was the Saint Mary iron sides. I never want to cross the gulf again. I would rather march the same distance-I expect we have now to march to Texas. The evening before we landed in Algiers General [John A.] McClernand made a speech to the troops & told them he was going march them threw to the Niagara-there is a wonderful force going. There is over nine thousand cavalry gone now & a very large force of infantry going from here & another from Red River-we will have much fighting to do. We are going over the same old ground that they had that other fight at Grand Cataw [Grand Coteau]-if we meat an opposing party-we will give them the best grist in the mill. It is going to be a hard time-I don't complain that is what I enlisted for to help put down the rebellion-A. A. Thayer-[Sunday, the 6th]-when we leave here we have to leave all our tents [and take] only what we can carry. Our regiment is filling up-you need not be afraid about me reenlisting for I give you my word I wont. Our regt. has got out of the nation now & when they were I told them if every man in the regt reenlisted I wouldn't. 3 years is enough-for me-I sold my under shirts for I didn't want to carry them & it is warm enough without them now. i got a dollar for them-". The original stamped transmittal cover is included. Thayer's phonetic spelling and loose grammar had been corrected. Minor spotting, else VG.
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