Beschreibung:

Lot of 18 letters from various Union soldiers serving in varied regiments in the Western Theater, 1862-1865. A notable letter in the archive is penned from George C. Palmer to his brother, Major General John McAuley Palmer (1817-1900) on February 2, 1863. John served admirably for the Union, notably in the Battle of Stone’s River where he was promoted to major general, and he also went on to become Governor of Illinois (1869-1873) and a US Senator from Illinois (1891-1897). George writes to his brother of his exodus from Louisiana to Kansas, “I left the land of secession the first day of Sept. last and after a journey on horseback of 900 miles I reached Kansas … I had to leave my wife and child in La. near Alexandria on the Red River. I was forced to leave or join the service which I was not willing to do.” He also expresses his interest in becoming a captain in the newly formed colored troops writing, “I see the President has offered to enlist all the Negroes who are willing to join the service; consequently they will have to be officered by white men. I consider it one of the best things that could be done with them for they will be helping to crush the rebellion and free themselves at the same time; and not only themselves but the poor classes of the South in general.” It is not known whether John used his clout to help, but George was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and transferred to the USCT 11th Infantry on February 1, 1864. Includes a stamped patriotic Union cover. Other letters included in the archive are as follows, in chronological order: February 13, 1862, Paducah, KY, with patriotic cover and “The School of the Indiana Zouave” letterhead. George F. Tedrow, Co. K, 11th Indiana Zouaves. George writes to his younger brother Joseph about having taken Fort Henry and that their troops had moved on Fort Donelson, “We are expecting [contact] here but whether there will be one I can’t say. Let them come if they want to smell hell.” June 23, 1862, Nashville, TN, with envelope, stamp removed. Thomas W. Smith, Co. G, 11th Michigan Infantry, writes to friend Kate about the harsh realities of the long march from Columbia to Pikeville, “The boys did not have enough to eat during all the march and we were in a place where it could not be bought, so we had to take whatever we could catch ...There were about seven thousand of us and it took something to feed so many.” August 11, 1862, Buell’s Headquarters, Huntsville, AL. George L. Garrett, Co. L, 4th Missouri Cavalry, provides an interesting account of the “murder” of Col. Robert Latimer McCook (1827-1862) by Frank B. Gurley of Forrest’s cavalry. The specifics of McCook’s death at Gurley’s hand have been up to debate by historians. Garrett’s account to his mother is as follows, “On Thursday last, Col. McCook, a fine officer of about thirty years of age, while riding in front of an ambulance, accompanied by a small escort, was met by the guerrilla Gurley, with a portion of his command, about thirteen miles from huntsville. The rebel pointed his pistol at him, ordering him to dismount and surrender, but before the Col. could order the ambulance to halt, he was shot through the heart, and the murderer, after exchanging a volley, disappeared.” Garrett also remarks on the formation of the 1st Alabama Cavalry Regiment of the Union, which was the only predominantly white Union regiment from Alabama, “About four hundred Alabamians have come over to the flag and were mustered into the U.S. Service. They are all uniformed and form the nucleus of the 1st Alabama Regiment. They say they know numbers who will come down from the mountains as soon as they dare. Bully for Alabama.” November 5, 1862, Camp Near Bowling Green. December 4, 1862, Camp near Castalion Springs, TN. George B. Dowsman, Co. H, 75th Indiana Infantry. Gives an interesting account of the Confederate clothing to his mother in his first letter, “You wanted to know how the Rebels look. Well you hear a great many things at home that ar