Raynors HCA 2017-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/23/2017
A great Confederate Veteran's letter, 6pp. 4to., written by VMI Graduate and Battle of New Market Veteran, Pvt. Charles Beverly Tate, Sr. (1847-1925), cadet private Co. C, served cadet artillery battery. Before the end of the war he became sergeant on Co. B. and was acting adjutant of of the remaining cadet forces following Lee's surrender at Appomattox. His United Confederate Veteran's letter, 6pp. 4to., signed "C. B. Tate, Sr." comes from the Confederate Soldier's Home, Richmond, Va., May 30, 1925, and is written six months before his death and gives a great description of Richmond's soldier home, in part: "…the Home is located in the west end of the city, two or [three] miles from Capitol Square, a plot of local land, thirteen acres, the whole enclosed by well-trimmed California fruit hedge. An elliptical driveway passes from the entrance gate through a grove of stately oaks and cotton wood…three hundred yards to the administration building, an unpretentious building in keeping with others including hospital, dining hall, recreation hall for lectures & public addresses plays and dances. Within said ellipse is a flowing fountain and…gold fish…back of dining hall and hospital are the barber shops-store houses and laundry. Near the west end of the dining hall a line of cottages, headed by the superintendent's, extends to the front…ending in a modest chapel only one cottage distance from mine. Diagonally opposite the four corners of this front and across the st[reet] are the Christ Baptist, the Missionary Baptist, the Roman Catholic and M. E. Church…at a distance of only a square and a half are a P. E. and a Presbyterian Church. A bus line borders us on the east and a street car-line a block farther on, both free within limits of [the] city to images of the Home. Now, notwithstanding, the religious advantages enumerated many of the old Vets are in doubt and a few around unbelievers [are] blatant blasphemers. The Home is a little world of its own with all the characters and characteristics of the big world. Men representing all classes of society from [the] highly educated to the illiterate and from the true gentleman to the humbug and scoundrel…but the saving clause, one can select his own companions. The denizens of the "Grove" are a dozen squirrels, twenty pigeons, black birds…they [?] and play to their hearts content. Occasionally the mothers come along and…treat the old soldiers with the untwist cordiality. This is universally the case with the ladies of Richmond…our table fare is fairly good, cornbread at least once a day, buttermilk thrice a week. That's a good start…and the best cold well water in Richmond. Rooms for two. My companion is Mr. [Frank Henry] Rahm, 84 years of age [born 1841 Richmond, died Richmond's soldier home 3/20/1928, buried Hollywood Cemetery, Va.], a resident of Richmond a 1st Lieut. in Mosby's command [joined Mosby in January 1864]…both he and his son…[was] many years engaged as traveling agents for a furniture firm…spent some years in N. O. where the father lost his fortune speculating in cotton. He…lost his wife and daughter a few years ago…Major S. may go at most anytime now. I shall miss him…rest assured that anything that constitutes to the comfort and pleasure of the inmates of the Home is strictly looked after and it is commissary that the authorities, to save us the trouble of eating our meals, will appoint proxies for that purpose…C. B. Tate, Sr." Toning, else VG
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