1863 CIVIL WAR SOLDIER LETTER - CAMP ON CRIPPLE CREEK TENN NEAR MURFREESBORO
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:16316554 | Featured Refinements: Civil War Letter |
Civil War soldier's letter, 3+ pgs., approx. 5-1/4" x 7-3/4", dated at "Camp On Cripple Creek, May 22nd, 1863" (Tennessee), from "Oscar" to his sister.
Great content, writing of having been in Murfreesboro since the Battle of Stone River, until a week ago, when they moved to Cripple Creek, and writing that "it is with pleasure I hail the prospect of coming activity, hoping as I do that it will contribute to an earlier success of our cause", but assures his sister "Do not ...understand me that I court unnecessarily the dangers of the battle field. One taste of those horrors have been sufficient for me. Yet, where duty calls, I am still ready to go"
The letter includes:
"Dear Sister,
For a long time last fall, I looked for a letter from you, but after so long a time of silence, without weighing very closely matters of debt and credit, I conclude to write you a few lines at any rate. Since coming into the Army, I have been quite prompt in replying to all letters, so in future you will know by what means to hear from me....
My health, though not perfect by any means, is as good as it has been at any time during my soldier life, and if I were quite well, and had the assurance that lying idle in a pleasant camp would speedily close the war in a desirable manner, I would be quite content. But it is perhaps foolish to make such a remark, for experience has proved very positively to me that in time of war at least, a soldier's life is replete with all manner of hardships and exposure. I will not, however, complain even at these; and if the Divine Ruler but spares my life and vouchsafe a degree of health until I once more see home with a country saved, I think I shall be truly thankful for those blessings.
Since the battle of 'Stone River', we were near Murfreesboro all the time until about one week since, when we came to our present camping ground which is 8 or 9 miles from M. [Murfreesboro] on the creek above names. The grounds are really pleasant, being shaded by a beautiful grove. One thing, however, renders us somewhat uncomfortable. The weather, though warm in daytime, is invariably cold at night. The contrast is such that I have felt the cold more sensibly since the beginning of this month than at any time during the winter....
Pleasant as is our present situation, and as little laborious as is our present occupation, still it is with pleasure I hail the prospect of coming activity, hoping as I do that it will contribute to an earlier success of our cause. Do not understand me that I court unnecessarily the danges of the battle field. One taste of those horrors have been sufficient for me. Yet where duty calls, I am still ready to go...
Let me hear from you soon. With much love, I remain Your Brother, Oscar"
Very Fine.
COMBINED SHIPPING FOR MULTIPLE ITEMS.
[#16a]
Great content, writing of having been in Murfreesboro since the Battle of Stone River, until a week ago, when they moved to Cripple Creek, and writing that "it is with pleasure I hail the prospect of coming activity, hoping as I do that it will contribute to an earlier success of our cause", but assures his sister "Do not ...understand me that I court unnecessarily the dangers of the battle field. One taste of those horrors have been sufficient for me. Yet, where duty calls, I am still ready to go"
The letter includes:
"Dear Sister,
For a long time last fall, I looked for a letter from you, but after so long a time of silence, without weighing very closely matters of debt and credit, I conclude to write you a few lines at any rate. Since coming into the Army, I have been quite prompt in replying to all letters, so in future you will know by what means to hear from me....
My health, though not perfect by any means, is as good as it has been at any time during my soldier life, and if I were quite well, and had the assurance that lying idle in a pleasant camp would speedily close the war in a desirable manner, I would be quite content. But it is perhaps foolish to make such a remark, for experience has proved very positively to me that in time of war at least, a soldier's life is replete with all manner of hardships and exposure. I will not, however, complain even at these; and if the Divine Ruler but spares my life and vouchsafe a degree of health until I once more see home with a country saved, I think I shall be truly thankful for those blessings.
Since the battle of 'Stone River', we were near Murfreesboro all the time until about one week since, when we came to our present camping ground which is 8 or 9 miles from M. [Murfreesboro] on the creek above names. The grounds are really pleasant, being shaded by a beautiful grove. One thing, however, renders us somewhat uncomfortable. The weather, though warm in daytime, is invariably cold at night. The contrast is such that I have felt the cold more sensibly since the beginning of this month than at any time during the winter....
Pleasant as is our present situation, and as little laborious as is our present occupation, still it is with pleasure I hail the prospect of coming activity, hoping as I do that it will contribute to an earlier success of our cause. Do not understand me that I court unnecessarily the danges of the battle field. One taste of those horrors have been sufficient for me. Yet where duty calls, I am still ready to go...
Let me hear from you soon. With much love, I remain Your Brother, Oscar"
Very Fine.
COMBINED SHIPPING FOR MULTIPLE ITEMS.
[#16a]
