Description:

Lot of two war-date letters from Union Colonel Theodoric F. C. Dodd, a member of the 73rd Indiana Infantry Regiment, Company B. Dodd writes to his wife Eliza, whom he refers to as ‘Lida' in his letters. The first letter is 4pp. 4to., Louisville, Oct. 16, 1862, in part: ‘...On October 1, we were ordered to leave Louisville. We took up our line of march towards the interior of the state...following up Gen. Bragg who commanded his retreat as soon as Buell had given him time to supply himself with winter forage!!...We accidentally got too close to Bragg at Perryville and he gave us a severe battle...I cannot escape the conviction that the conduct of this war is in very unsafe hands...The men are put on half rations in a state abounding in all the luxuries of life and also abounding in Rebels of the darkest, most contemptable size. One man died today out of our regiment from exhaustion....We marched all day and all night over a hot and dusty turnpike and about 4 o' clock in the morning I fell out and was arrested!!!!...A few days ago General Crittenden (God bless him) told General Buell (God curse him!) that he was a traitor!...Bragg and Buell came into Ky. together...Bragg stopped 28 miles from Louisville and commenced foraging and recruiting...Buell came to Louisville and received a reinforcement almost double his previous number. He kept this force at Louisville until Bragg had foraged to his hearts content...Buell then started in pursuit of Bragg...but has not caught him yet!!...You have heard long'ere I suppose of the battle at Cave Springs and Perryville. It was a bloody affair. Our regiment done nothing but look on...I must ask you again Lida to be very careful of your health. You can be careful, I can't...' The second letter, 4pp. 8vo., Nashville, Tennessee, Dec. 19, 1862, reads in part: ‘...I have been almost overwhelmed with your sweet letters for a couple of days...When I arrived in Nashville...I was a pretty sick boy with typhoid fever...Well dear there was a day or two before I left camp and for two days after I got into the hospital that I was not able to write...I'm entirely free from disease. Yet I shall remain here until I think I am fast able for anything... As much as I love, oh, love so much to see my darling it would be imprudent you to come here...' He goes on to explain why their visit would be ‘unsatisfactory', concluding the letter with loving sentiments. Both letters bear some spotting throughout, with trivial holes and tears that do not intrude on the text. This lot is accompanied by a tintype photo of an unidentified man although presumed to be Dodd himself as this lot came directly from his descendants. The photo is presented in an ornate oval brooch; WITH a Duke's Cigarettes booklet, 15 pp. 1.5 x 2.75 in., [n.p., n.d.], giving a short history of Union General, Don Carlos Buell. The cover features an illustrated portrait of Buell, the verso bearing a bald eagle and a circular image of the American flag. The booklet is held within a protective plastic case, 3.25 x 5.5 in., and a Duke's Cigarettes trading card, 2.5 x 4 in., honoring General Braxton Bragg with a short biography on the verso. The cover features a portrait of Bragg and an illustration of two Confederate soldiers on the battlefield. Five pieces, overall very good.

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