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Lydston, William, fl. 1813-1881 to Mr. Forbes

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04406.01 Author/Creator: Lydston, William, fl. 1813-1881 Place Written: Bronx, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 12 October 1864 Pagination: 2 p. : Height: 24.5 cm, Width: 19 cm Order a Copy

States he was requested by H. P. Brothers to write to Forbes and send his watercolor drawing of the siege of Petersburg which he drew while watching the action that night. Gives a description of the siege and explains what is depicted in his drawing. " ... the cannonading, musketry and shelling lasted a full hour and a half. These shells were above, below all around and about us, but these are familiar scenes and one can trace at night the course of the shell in the air as the lighted fuse leaves a long trail in its course, you see them coming and going, but know not how they are timed, or whereabout they are intended to explode (terrible missiles!)." Written on stationery from McDougall General Hospital, U. S. Army, Forth Schuyler, NY Harbor. See drawing, GLC04406.02. Written at Fort Schuyler.

Lydston, William, 1813-1881

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