November 2023 Auction Ends Thursday, November 30th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/30/2023
Four page Civil War letter from Erastus Pollett of the 1st Indiana Heavy Artillery. Composed shortly before the regiment embarked on operations that led to the capture of Forts Gaines and Morgan. Datelined 20 June 1864 from ''Fort Williams Baton Rouge Louisiana,'' letter reads in part: ''...it is a geting tolerabel warm down here now but we have got shades over our tents...it is tolerabel comphortabel in the shade in the day time but the misketos almost eat us up at night. there was an aligater killed the other day down in the river it was about 6 feet long...the picture of one represents one exactly. they had to shoot it 4 times be fore they killed it...we are a haveing a tolerabel good time down here we stay in one place all the time we dont have no marching to do we have tolerabel heavy guard duty to do but I would rather do that than to be a marching around all the time there is 2 companys A and G got marching orders for Morgans bend but our Company will stay here a while yet...'' The 1st Indiana engaged the enemy at Baton Rouge, Mobile and the Siege of Port Hudson, and aided in the capture of Forts Morgan, Gaines and Spanish Fort. Pollett mustered into service on 10 October 1863. Ink letter measures 4.5'' x 7.5''. Some wear at folds and overall wrinkling, overall very good condition.
1864 Civil War Letter by Soldier in the 1st Indiana Artillery in Baton Rouge -- ''...there was an aligater killed the other day down in the river...6 feet long...they had to shoot it 4 times...''
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