Raynors HCA 2017-12
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/7/2017
A good war-date Union soldier's letter, 4pp. 4to., written by Corp. Moses F. Whittemore, Co. C, 51st Ohio Vols., Murfreesboro, Tenn., May 4, 1863, in part: "…the artist [photographer] that we have here…cant or at least doesn't take good likenesses…the army is still at Mur.. The[re] is a camp report afloat that the rebel army is advancing in force but it is not believed by many…he will [not] attack us under cover of our strong works. Nothing would please Rosy more than to have the enemy attack his army at M…their policy is to draw us out from under the cover of our fortifications and then attack. They have been endeavoring to do this for the last mo. but our skillful and successful warrior, Rosecrans seldom bites at rebel bate…we have at present in this department only about 50,000 men, but are being reinforced daily…Rosy has got a garden containing 150 acres at Nashville. Planted in [the] garden [is] seed of all descriptions. The vegetables…are for the sick in the hospitals. This shows clearly that the general does not forget his suffering sick…that notwithstanding, he has not much sympathy for rebus. He sympathizes with his own men in their suffering and does all he can for them. He is a very pleasant looking man, nearly always smiling, accompanied by his staff (about thirty officers) and body guard. We were drawn up in line of battle [at Stones River] (which means 2 ranks) and the Gen. passed along our front he would halt at every regt. and inquire of the Col. whether his regt was supplied with clothing…and such questions as he saw fit…as he passed by the 51st he says this regt looks well, very well. We did look pretty well that day for we had heard in the morning that Rosecrans was to be present at the review and consequently we put on as many "French airs" as possible…on Saturday we were expected from all military duty and we are allowed to wash our clothing and persons…our large bell tents such as we had in [Camp] Meigs have been turned over and we now have the French cover tent or as the soldiers call them "dog tents" which when pitched are 4 1/2 ft. long and 5 ft. high…one tent is allowed to each two men. My tent mate is Wm. Davis [severely wounded Kennesaw Mountain, Ga., 6/20/64]…we get along finely. He is obliging and accommodating…Moses W…M. L. W., Co. C, 51st O. regt., 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 21st Army Corps (Core) department of the Cumberland." Mild dampstains, else VG
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