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Lot #1634
7th Massachusetts Infantry

“Friday there was one private belonging to the 5th Michigan Regiment shot here for desertion. It seems pretty bad to have anything of that kind occur. When he was brought out & placed on his coffin to be shot he came out laughing and said that he was willing to die & wanted the boys to shoot him well so that he might not suffer any pain. There was six guns fired at him, one of them was loaded with a blank cartridge so that none of them knew which fired the shots”

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Description

“Friday there was one private belonging to the 5th Michigan Regiment shot here for desertion. It seems pretty bad to have anything of that kind occur. When he was brought out & placed on his coffin to be shot he came out laughing and said that he was willing to die & wanted the boys to shoot him well so that he might not suffer any pain. There was six guns fired at him, one of them was loaded with a blank cartridge so that none of them knew which fired the shots”

ALS signed “Charlie,” four pages on two adjoining sheets, 5 x 8, embossed letterhead, August 15, 1863. Private Charles T. Williams writes to his mother, in part: “Friday there was one private belonging to the 5th Michigan Regiment shot here for desertion. It seems pretty bad to have anything of that kind occur. When he was brought out & placed on his coffin to be shot he came out laughing and said that he was willing to die & wanted the boys to shoot him well so that he might not suffer any pain. There was six guns fired at him, one of them was loaded with a blank cartridge so that none of them knew which fired the shots….Gen. Bartlett has taken command of his brigade again….We expected everyday now when we shall hear that Charleston has fallen & then I think we will settle this thing up for that was the first place to commence on, and what is first shall be last, and so I think this fall we will settle this thing up.” In very good condition, with intersecting folds, light creasing and toning, and some light brushing to the first letter of the signature. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope, addressed in Williams’ hand. RRAuction COA.

Auction Info

  • Auction Title:
  • Dates: #384 - Ended March 22, 2012