They Are Trying To Raise A Niger Regiment Hear.

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/26/2019

War-date Union soldier's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written, on 15th New Hampshire regimental stationery, by Pvt. Franklin Tilton, [from Sanborn, N. H.], Co. K, 15th New Hampshire Vols., "Camp Parapit," [Carrolton, La.], April 9, 1863, to his sister, in part: "…Aaron Sargent [of Sanborn, N. H] is some better, but he is at the hospital…General Banks has got back to New Orleans [with] about half of his force. He done a big thing up the river, took some nigers, destroyed some provisions. He has now gone down to Burwick Bay, Texas with an expedition. The 16th N. H. V. has gone with them. Corp. Joseph J. Calef of Hampstead has had his stripes taken off and reduced to the ranks for saucing superior officers. They are trying to raise a niger regiment hear, but they hate to come to that (the nigers) we take them wherever we find them, but one white man will a dozen of them as a general thing. We have a company of Negroes doing guard duty on the lower end of the parapet. The Lieut. of the guard was going around one night [and] come to one of them. He [the black guard] halted him (asked who comes thair). He said a Rebel and drawer his soard. The niger said I surrender mas'ser. He [the officer] went up and took him gun…from him. That [is] the courage that a niger has got. Of all the looking beings that I ever saw is these nigers. We have 15 hundred or more here. Not more than half of them are fit for any thing. Tell Perley that a good many of the Boys don't think so much of the niger as they did before they come out. Here it is a different story, but enough of the niger. It all most makes me sick to think of them…if the boys ever get homer they wont catch them to come out again…Franklin…". Near fine.

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).