Lot of four Civil War letters by Frank Rice of the 16th Vermont Infantry, Co. E, who enlisted in September 1862. The 16th Vermont was a nine months regiment, serving from October 1862 to August 1863. [Rice then mustered into another unit?] Letters to his sister and mother date from 16 November 1862 to 5 June 1865. First letter from Camp Vermont, near Washington, D.C., to his sister, reads in part, ''...this Co and five others of the 16th, had to go 4 miles out on picket, and did not get back until last night...We are living in the letter A tents, five in a tent...'' Letter dated 2 March 1863 from Fairfax Station, to his mother, reads in part, ''...we have had orders to be ready to march at any moment ...Stewart’s cavalry are scouting around in this vercinity [sic] again. Thay made a raid into Centervill two or three days ago and captured a number of the cavalry pickets and killed a scout, and four privates...'' Letter dated 25 March 1863 from Union Mills [Virginia], to his sister, reads in part, ''...I have just been down to Bull Run Bridge whitch [sic] was burnt by the Rebels and then rebuilt. There is iron plated car to defend the bridge with a ten pound gun in it and a guard of artillery...to use it if the Rebels should attempt to burn it again. We have to do picket duty now...The picket line is about three quarters of a mile from camp and as bush whackers are rather plenty in this country just now, we have to keep our eyes open...'' Letter dated 5 June 1865 from Clouds Mills, Virginia, to his mother, reads in part, ''...We moved our camp at B. a week ago to day and marched to our presant camp, marching thru Washington and Alexandria...We are camped allmost in sight of the old Camp 'Vermont'...'' Lot includes letter to his brother, ''Tink,'' dated 15 March 1877, and two 5.25'' x 3'' envelopes, one addressed to Mrs. Daniel Rice, the other to Arthur Rice. Also included in the lot is a Massachusetts discharge certificate from the 10th Infantry, dated 5 May 1876, and a Department of the Interior form, dated 10 June 1880, acknowledging the claim by Frank Rice for a pension based on his military service. Moderate foxing and soiling to letters, varying in size from 4.75'' x 7.25'' to 7.75'' x 9.5''. Overall, lot is in very good condition.
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