Description:

BETTER TO PAY A SUBSTITUTE THAN SERVE
War-date Union soldier's letter, 4pp. 8vo., by Pvt. Thomas Landers, Co. D, 16th Mass. Vols., Culpepper, Va., Oct. 4, 1863 to his brother, in part: "…I am very sorry that you had the misfortune to be drafted but I am almost sure that Father won't let you come if three hundred dollars will keep you from it…they are offering…to enlist in the Veteran Corps for three years or the war…402 dollars for every man that has less than one year to serve…with that the regular pay amounts to about 32 dollars a month. That is a very good offer and besides they will be sent to their different states immediately to organize the regts and probably stay there all winter. There is some that will take it but they are god damn few. They may put four thousand on top of that and they can't get me until I see home once more if the lord spares my life for nine months longer…I don't think there will be many…that was drafted with you come out...Jerald don't you come out if you can help it. There is enough of us here now god knows…". Very good.

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September 9, 2014 11:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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