Raynors HCA 2017-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/23/2017
Union soldier's war-date letter, 2pp. folio, written by Pvt. Montgomery Hickman, Co. I, 97th Illinois Vols., New Orleans, Aug. 28, 1863, to his wife, in part: "…we left Vicksburg on Tuesday morning…and got to the Crescent City (New Orleans) Thursday morning. They did not land us in the town, but we came back up the river about four miles where we have a fine camp. There is a railroad station close to our camp and a train goes from here down to Orleans every hour…it is a great town and has a fine appearance from the river…ships hundreds of which were lying before the town. Their masts and rigging and sails were a curiosity to me…it is a splendid country in this part of Louisiana. For 50 or 100 miles above Orleans it is a perfect paradise. The principle production seems to be Creole women peddlers who go along selling everything in the eatable line you can think of. Our boats was hardly landed…before it was surrounded by these peddlers in their skiffs filled with means, cakes, pies…candies etc and they are going through our camps all the time with the baskets of every kind of provisions. You can scarcely think of any kind of a dish…but what they have it. There is a large army gathering here. Nearly all the troops have come down from Vicksburg…we are to move on Mobile immediately…we are to be reviewed tomorrow by Maj. Genl. Banks who hereafter is to be our commander…direct to New Orleans, La. and 4th Div., 13th A. C. instead of 10th Div…from the signs I am going to have a chance to see considerable of the Southern Confederacy before I see home…M. Hickman." The original stamped transmittal cover is included. Minor paper loss at folds, else VG
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