207th PENNSYLVANIA LETTER – PETERSBURG CONTENT!

$125.00 ON HOLD

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 2023-1186

Sergeant David W. Crider of the 20th PA, Company F, penned this letter on September 21st, 1864 while camped near Bermuda Hundred.  He writes to his cousin Eliza as a fresh recruit, mentioning being in service for “about a month” and now finding himself in camp near the front.  He estimates being 8 miles from Petersburg at the time of writing, and perhaps double that from Richmond.  He mentions being only ¼ mile from the first line of breastworks the day prior, and being ordered to fall back.

His portrayal of camp life is quite interesting.  He talks of the ever-present rumors of an upcoming advance, the business of daily duties, and the boredom and challenges of downtime. Like most soldiers, he wants as much correspondence as possible and welcomes any photographs of his loved ones.  Without such things, he says camp life would be “almost intolerable”.

As the letter continues, he talks of a friend who recently enlisted and whose regiment is within sight of the camp of the 207th and just a few lines later says “We can hear firing along our lines nearly every hour of the day. There was very heavy firing all night last night, it has ceased to some extent this morning.  It is rumored that our men took two thousand prisoners.  The soldier has immediate duties which his profession requires and serious prospects ahead which involves suffering and personal peril.”  The uncertainty of a soldier’s life seems to be taking a mental toll, as he describes the “existence” of marching, camping, the monotony of the company streets, and never knowing when the order to move to the fighting will come.  He talks vaguely of his anxieties saying, “The equipment, the drill, the destination, the march, are all engrossing thought while the imagination is alive to the uncertain future.”  He closes by asking his cousin to write to him very soon, and emphasizes the “soon” aspect.  He closes the letter as “D. W. Crider, Company F 207th Regt. Penna Vol. Washington D.C.”

The letter itself is in excellent condition.  The lined paper features an embossment of George Washington at upper left and writing encompasses four total pages, front and back, folded at the middle. Folded, at center, the letter measures 8.1” x 5” and three horizontal folds divide it into thirds.  There are no tears or rips and the edges are crisp and sharp.  Much of the ink has lightly oxidized to a period appropriate shade of dark brown.    [cm][ph:L]

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