Raynors HCA 2019-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/26/2019
A somewhat melancholy Union soldier's letter, 4pp. 4to., written by Corp. Curtis Tuller, Co. A, 95th Illinois Vols, Vicksburg, Miss., Dec. 24-25, 1863, to his sister and wife giving us his rather nostalgic look back of the privations he endured during the past year's campaigns experienced all the while hoping that he would survive his service and make it home. Sadly, he was mistaken. Records show that he died on April 10, 1864 at Alexandria Va. His touching letter, reads, in very small part: "…this don't begin to tell the suffering and privations that we have to undergo on a march…our mail always comes to us where ever we are whether on a march or not…many times it has overtaken us when we was plodding along in the hot un and dust with no water to drink and no prospect of getting any for twenty four hours…at last the order is pass along the line to halt I have sat down and leaned my back against the fence and read a letter from my wife with tear in my eyes, but that like all other things has passed away, Olive. Don't think for one moment that I am finding fault with you for not writing more……but I am in hopes we shall see no more sich marches as we had last fall and spring for it don't seem to me that I can ever stand it again…many of the boys that was with us on those marches are with us no more…they have gone to their long homes, but I have been remarkably lucky so far…one year ago to knight we was on the march from Holly Springs south and camped at a little place called Salem…I was on picket in a piece of woods. It was darker than a stack of Black Cats…there I heard lots of the boys offer 25 cts for a hard cracker. Those were times that tried men's patriotism…who can tell where we will be one year from to knight. It is possible that we will be in some part of Dixie…I am in hopes if I am alive to be sitting by my own little fire in the society of my own little family with an honorable discharge from the army and the war at an end…the ground is as dry as a bone and it is nice getting around…we have a hard rain storm once in a while but it dry off quick. Tomorrow is Christmas and we are going to raise a knew pole in front of the colonel's tent and hoist our knew flag and we may get a little noisy before knight, but…there wont any body get drunk for we have got only one gallon of whiskey to get through Christmas but that is enough. There is some talk that our wages are going to be raised…it is time for men that are in the army and have got families at home and house rent to pay…everything is so high. Thirteen dollars per month don't make a grease spot…[Dec. 25th] good morning Olive. I wish you a merry Christmas…if you have the old Rooster for dinner just lay one his legs aside for me…I wish you a happy New Year and you must pull the gals ears for me when they don't behave…Curtis Tuller." Also included is the original stamped transmittal cover showing a color depiction of an armed zouave on his way to Richmond. Negligible archive repairs, light toning, else VG.
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