[ Autographs ] Union Soldier's Letter Fine content Union soldier's letter, 4pp. 8vo., "Camp of Starvation" [n.p.], Feb. 1, 1865 S. Appers [?], a soldier, writes his parents mentioning continued Confederate desertions and describes his duty on a firing squad. In part: '...riveof our men shot last week, they was trying to desert... 20 men taken out of our company for to shoot them and I was one of them. I tell you it went a little hard to do it but whatever your officers say you must do so our guns was taken from us and loaded and then the live men were sat on a log and had their eyes tied up... we stepped back about ten paces... they was all shot throuyh the head so I did not know if my gun had a ball in it... a big hole dug and threw [them] in.. there is a law passed if any one sees any one desert if he shoots him he gets E30 reward and a furlow of 30 days. I tell you I watch the backs midling sharp for I need money midling bad..." Probably nota good military policy! text a bit light but legible.