Negroes Are As Thick As Hops. Some - Are Almost White As We Are.

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/15/2022

War-date Union soldier's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Alfred A. Thayer, Co. B, 96th Ohio Vols., [n. p., but Louisville, KY, Nov.] the 9th, 1862," to his wife, in part: "-we haven't drill any today only had dress parade. We are better drill on that now than our colonel [Joseph W. Vance] is. The other nit he had us out on dress parade and the adjutant had us open order & order arms then the colonel commence & had us shoulder arms & then order arms & then gave the command close order, march & we stood still as he turned to the adjutant & asked him the reason why we did not close up - the adjutant [George N. Clark] told him we was at an order arms. We all roared out a laughing. It made him feel quite simple and acknowledged that he did not pay the attention that he ought to. To nite he had us out again. He done better. He only made one mistake. Last week we had three reviews. The first was before General [Stephen G.] Burbridge - the other two was before General A. J. Smith. He is a fine looking old man. All the objections I have to them is that they are both Southern men. There was five regiments. It made a very pretty site. I never said anything about William Spearman. He came in camp - he was harty and well - he sober. He gave me a bottle of whisky. It done me and Bill a good deal of good for we march the next day & it was so dusty that it almost choke - about the negroes. The[y] are as thick as hops. Some os them is full bloods & some are part white & some of them are almost white as we are. It almost makes me sick to see them. If there is some ladies come in camp there is a couple of colored ones with them. When we go through town the town is alive with them - we have our tents fixed. We have them raised about 2 feet high and a sod wall under it - we have flues in them - the boys say that they think that - all the folks do hear is to make negroes for there is a large crop of little ones - you husband, A. A. Thayer." Overall VG.

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