Raynors HCA 2017-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/7/2017
A good war-date Union surgeon's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Asst. Surgeon William C. Towle 12th Maine Vols., Camp Parapet, [Carrolton, La.], Mar. 15, 1864, to his wife, in part: "…our companies over the Lake all came back last Sunday with all of the rest that were there abandoning the place entirely…I was mustered in for three years and there is no way to get out so long as my health is good…the 9th Conn. and 176th N. York Regts are encamped just below here in our brigade. Gen. [Franklin S.] Nickerson takes command today…we did not see the surgeons of either Regt as they were in town but saw the Cols., majors etc…we shall get paid before long. I don't know what I should have done if I could not have borrowed any…I was glad to hear of John's opportunity. I wish he was stationed here so that I could get my pay…for they often times pay particular friends while others are obliged to wait. There are strong suspicions that a great deal of the money sent to the Dept. is used by high officials in speculating on cotton. It is a great temptation for they can more than double their money as soon as they get it through the lines. It is a very easy thing to give a man a pass into the Confederacy with a good pile of greenbacks and then he can buy as much cotton as he pleases and no trouble in getting it out. I know ell enough from what I have heard in high official quarters that there is much of this business carried on…W. C. Towle…". The original transmittal cover and a small slip of CSA paper is included. VG
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