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Blanchard, Henry (fl. 1864) to Horace Blanchard

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04881 Author/Creator: Blanchard, Henry (fl. 1864) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: circa 1 May 1864 Pagination: 2 p. : envelope ; 19.9 x 12.9 cm. Order a Copy

Discusses troops movements and a baseball game.

Dear Brother
I now take my pen to answer your Kind letter which was received with great pleasure by me. I am glad to hear you are well. We have received marching orders and probaly [sic] by this time tomorrow we shall be on the banks of the Rapid Am or away up towards Madison C.H. One year ago today at this hour (it is now about 6 ock PM) I was issuing amunition out to the rebels on Salem heights one round at a time. I have no particular desire to get into another hornets nest as that was. But when duty calls we must go. In my last letter I mentioned Burnsides Corp De Arme as being at Manassas Plains. It was true. The next day he marched down the [2] Railroad relieving the 5th Army Corps as he came along with his colored troops. He is now with the remainder of his force at Rappahanock [sic] Station, unless he has moved to day. The 5th Army Corps have [inserted: been] marching to day in the direction of Culpepper which makes me think we are going to move on to Lee's left flank. Burnside has some Indian troops with him. I will give your compliments to the [con feds] at the same time I send mine over, in the shape of a Shalers sectional. Yesterday a Match Game of ball was played at 6th Corp Hd. Qrts. between a party from the Harris Light Cavalry and a party belonging to the Jersey Brigade. The Jersey Boys made 37 tallies, and H.L.C. 15 tallies. 9 innings each side. We had a fine little Hurricane accompanied [inserted on left hand side of page two: by a thunder shower last night. I wish you could have seen it, it was the most grand sublime and yet terrific phenomena I ever saw, but as my paper is becoming some what crow[d]ed I shall have to come to a stop or change base of operations. So I will stop writing.
Write soon. From your affct brother Henry [T.W].
[envelope]
Mr. Horace K. Blanchard
Provin
R.I.
Care L.D. Anthony & Co.

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