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

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.14.36 Author/Creator: Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913 Place Written: Berwick City, Louisiana Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1 October 1863 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope ; 12.5 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

The soldiers have been setting up camp in Berwick, tearing down old buildings and establishing their own quarters. It rains all the time and the men are woken in the night with their tents flooded, but they make the best of it. Damuth writes that he is only homesick when the weather is beautiful. He has been asked to name one of the children born into his family during his absence and suggests "if you want to name him after as great & good a man as ever lived call him Old Abe if after the meanest one call him after any Copper head." Of the next orders for the regiment, Damuth writes: "some say we are going into texas to catch nigers to make soldiers of." Written from Berwick City, likely Louisiana.

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