2022-11 Raynors HCA Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/18/2022
War-date Union soldier's letter, 4 1/2pp. 8vo., written, on "United States Sanitary commission, N. E. Auxiliary Association" stationery, by Pvt. Alfred A. Thayer, Co. B, 96th Ohio Vols., Marion Hospital, New Orleans, La., May 18, 1864, reading, in part: "-I was sorry to hear that Albert & Charley was so foolish. Tell Albert that if his name is off [the draft rolls.] My advise is never to have it on again. Now all if you don't take my advise you pay wish you had. When it is too late god knows. I wouldn't give you bad advise if I knew it-tell him what I say. Tell him that he little knows what we have to go threw, lay in the mud & rain & lots of things worse than that. If he was to go threw this hospital & see men suffer in all shapes it would be enough for him. All I have seen & experienced all these things. If I was at home money wouldn't temp me. It will be very bad if some of those home companies have to go but it takes men to do the work not boys & the sooner they get out the sooner it will be over-you spoke of not getting a correct account of the battle. Neither have we nor do expect for it was so badly managed that they will keep it from being known if possible. Our regt only lost 50, 8 killed that they know of. The rest is supposed to be prisoners. We get a different report nearly everyday about the army of Red River. It was reported that they were surrounded & all communication cut off but I guess they have got one side clear from the rebs but cant write with an certainty-we had orders to be ready for one hundred & fifty, some sick & some wounded but that haven't come yet-A. A. Thayer-". An original stamped transmittal cover is included. Thayer's phonetic spelling and loose grammar had been corrected. Minor toning, else VG.
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.