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Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913 to Maria Damuth

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.14.08 Author/Creator: Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913 Place Written: Friars Point, Mississippi Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 8 January 1863 Pagination: 5 p. : Height: 12.5 cm, Width: 20.5 cm Order a Copy

Gives an account of his health. Despite recent illness, Damuth weighs 144 lbs, "more than I ever weighed in my life." He is in charge of rations for the company and encloses a slip of paper with a list of five days rations. The camp has a black servant who cooks for the men and washes their clothing. Discusses more camp health issues and assures his sister that although she might think "the Hospital is a dredful [sic] thing…it is not so here." Colonel Gill is under arrest after an incident in town. Six buildings, including a hotel and a store room of cotton, were set on fire and the 29th Wisconsin Regiment has been blamed. Damuth is certain Gill is innocent, though he admits that his colonel "has ordered a few buildings burned but onely [sic] whear thear has been shots fired at our pickets."

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