February 2017 Auction Ends Thursday, February 23rd, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/23/2017
Handwritten and signed Civil War letter by Robert H. Crist of the 21st Indiana Infantry, Co. F. Dated 9 February 1862 from Fort Marshall, Baltimore, letter reads: ''Dear Sister Parna, Yours was received some time ago and I have neglected to answer till now but have no news to write. My health is very good except I have a sore mouth cause by drinking hot coffee without milk. Milk costs from 8 to 10 per quart...The soldiers are seeing easy time but are getting uneasy. The weather is very moderate freeze night a little but thaws out soon in the morning is very muddy...I would send you some money but I have been buying some clothes...we have to change the color of our uniform to sky blue. There were 42 new recruits come today from Ind. We are discharging some all the while, some are deserting. There are some hard cases in the Regt and the boys tease and bother them till they get mad & leave and no one hunts them. One man was shot by the sentinel a few days ago & will probably die. The ball struck the joint of his shoulder and went through his neck cutting open [his] wind pipe & gullet. He is alive yet and doing well, but may bled to death any day...you & father would play smash enlisting under Jim Lane-another Fremont. Jim Lane will blow out. This war will end before we all get covered with glory & epaulettes. What would we do if we went home, nothing to do...you folks up there are crazy, wait 2 or 3 years then talk. Jim Lane would find something different from a lot of disorganized Border Ruffians to deal with...Robert H. Crist''. Letter on 2pp., front and verso, measures 5'' x 8'' with minor foxing and toning. Very good condition.
Civil War Letter -- ''...One man was shot by the sentinel a few days ago...The ball struck the joint of his shoulder and went through his neck cutting open [his] wind pipe & gullet...''
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