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Ekings, Thomas, fl. 1862-1864 to his friend

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06559.022 Author/Creator: Ekings, Thomas, fl. 1862-1864 Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: January 14, 1863 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope Height: 20.5 cm, Width: 12.8 cm Order a Copy

Writes from camp near "White Oak Chapel." Says he is still in his old camp, where the men occupy their time doing drills. States despite Ogden's advice, he cannot help feeling disheartened by the defeat at Fredericksburg, Virginia, for he believes the battle was unnecessary. Notes all of the mistakes that the commanders of the army have made thus far. In particular, he feels that General Ambrose Burnside should never have been given command of the Army of the Potomac. However, Burnside himself cannot be blamed for current problems; instead, those in Washington who gave him the command must bear the blame. Believes the men need a good commander to "accomplish the object for which they took the field." Includes an embossed seal in the upper left hand corner. The Battle of Fredericksburg occurred in December 1862. Letter is mistakenly dated January 1862.

Ogden, Sarah Morris Perot, 1831-1912

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