11 handwritten letters in ink, multiple pages, each with stamped envelope.
Robert Crandall writes to his sister in Baraboo, Wisconsin, over a span of more than two years (Dec. 31, 1862, to Jan. 26, 1865), from various points in the western theatre of operations, Arkansas, New Orleans, Tennessee, etc. In December of 1862 he is “In swamp opposite Vicksburg, Miss.” and relates: “One week ago last Sunday we took the boats at Memphis for this place. On the way down we confiscated all kinds of property… We were called in early in the morning and set off with the brigade to destroy a railroad which runs opposite Vicksburg from Louisiana…” On September 4, 1863, he writes of officers resigning, the difficulty of obtaining leave, and a visit by General U.S. Grant: “When Grant appeared on the review ground yesterday the cannon fired and a loud and continuous cheering burst forth from 25000 sturdy veterans… We love Genl. Grant for we know he is a good Genl. and kind to his men….” November 4, 1863: “I will write you a few lines tonight, and the first thing in order, of course, will be our battle of yesterday… We were eating diner and crack, crack, crack went the rifles on our right. We were not anticipating anything more than a picket skirmish, but barely had time to form and move out a short distance from camp before we met them in force… The 23rd had scarcely time to reach the point to which I was ordered when pell mell came the 96th & 83rd running in retreat. Genl. Banbridge was with them and as he neared us called out ‘Col. move forward into the ravine we have to into the hell of a hot place. Now 23rd do your duty.’ …But nearer and nearer they came until they flanked us and Genl. B. ordered us to fall back… The devils came again and again we were ordered to fall back, when hello! the rebs were in our camp having come in on the left: hence we made for the prairie and rallied the 4th and last time. Now comes our turn a Brigade reinforces us. Genl. B. is still with us but Col. Cuppey was wounded when we first fell back and is taken prisoner… the rascals have taken the blankets, coats of all they could lay their hands on…” The letters are well written, and offer keen and colorful observations of military action, camp life, and the concerns of soldiers during the great conflagration that split our nation. The handwriting is neat, even meticulous, though on a few the space-saving technique of writing perpendicularly over previous text causes some legibility problems.