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Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865 to family

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00653.22.08 Author/Creator: Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865 Place Written: Richmond, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: December 14, 1864 Pagination: 2 p. : Height: 20.3 cm, Width: 27.3 cm Order a Copy

This letter is printed on half of a regimental attendance sheet, perhaps demonstrating the lack of paper in the Confederate camp. He is well and hopes these lines find them in a similar condition. "We are having some very [cold] weather here." It snowed last Friday night. Attacked Union picket lines on Saturday, charging through shoe-high mud to push them back to their breast works. Was not in the thick of the fight; was placed with the baggage train "though the balls whistled around me pretty thick." The meat they get is called beef but is clearly horse or mule meat. As dire as the food situation is, has still managed to gain some weight in his time here. He saw another man shot for desertion. A man from his company, Perry Etcherson, will be shot tomorrow.

Cook, George B., fl. 1845-1865
Etcherson, Perry, fl. 1864

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