47065: Private Milton Hare, 8th Indiana Cavalry Archive

Private Milton Hare, 8th Indiana Cavalry Archive of Letters. A group of thirteen war-dated letters, ranging from October 29, 1863 to November 26, 1864, with one undated letter. Not all of the letters are written in Hare's hand; a few were written on his behalf by his nurse, William S. Cramer, while Hare was in hospital after being wounded. Most of the letters are also accompanied by a transmittal cover. The letters written by Hare have very poor grammar and spelling, making them more difficult to read. In one of his earlier letters, Hare writes home to his mother about a hanging in camp and of being provided with horses. The 8th Indiana was unique in that it originated as an infantry unit, but was made a mounted infantry in April 1863 and finally changed to cavalry in October 1863. Throughout 1864 and 1865, the cavalry's main occupation was conducting raids in Alabama and Georgia. Hare's letter dated June 18, 1864 reads, in part: "thare was five men hung yesterday. Thay was rebs I cant tell you what was thare charges was. I was on gard her in camp and I did not git to go to see them hung...thay have quit talk about drawing horses. I want them to draw them purty son for I am agiting tirde of doing infantry duty." [Three pages, 5" x 8"]. In late September or early October, Hare was wounded in his leg, and sent to the hospital. He writes to his mother of his experience on October 2, 1864: "I am in they hospitle at Nashville no. 19 but I don't expect to stay thare very much longer if I can help it. I will tell you what made mey come here was one of they rebs bullets skelped my thie just deep enough to make it feele good. Thay shot my horse in they foot furst and he rard up and then thay shot mey through they [illegible] and it went a had through him and that put a stop to his going and I got out of thare in a purty big hurey...it was last Tuesday morning is when it camensed and lasted all day until late in they evening and in they morning they rebs had got back about five miles and I cold not tell you where thay are now...I cant tell you how meney was killed and wonded but it don't know." [Four pages, 5" x 8"]. He continues to assuage his mother's fears on October 12, 1864, writing: "I don't whant you to bey oneasy about mey for I will bey all wright in about a month I think...I have all they care taken on my leg that is needed..." [Two pages, 5" x 8"]. Within two weeks, Hare was relocated to a hospital in Louisville. His mother had been to visit him and he was eager to update her on his condition. A letter written by Cramer, on Hare's behalf, on October 25, 1864: "I believe I am better than I was when you was here. I have a better appetite than I had when you was here & my leg is going a little that black flesh that was on is a coming off now. I think that it will get well of the gangrene in about two weeks at the furthest..." [Two pages, 5" x 8"]. He wrote again on the 31st with an update on his patient's health and on his own experience as a medical provider: "I have been nursing in the Gangrene tent for nearly five months, but was home on furlough when you was here. The Gangrene is entirely out of Milton's leg, the swelling has entirely left it, and is healing very rapidly now however too fast. I think if he has good luck, does not get any back set, he will be perfectly safe to go Indianapolis by the first of next month or fifth at farthest...Don't retain any uneasiness about him, he will be well cared for, at least as well as my knowledge will permit." [Two pages, 5" x 6"]. Cramer would go on to write additional letters to Milton's mother. On November 14, 1864, Cramer penned a letter, voicing Hare's growing impatience upon not receiving any letters from home. It reads, in part: "I have not got a letter from you for some time, or at least for the last week, during which time I have anxiously looked for one every day. I am sorry to say it, but I don't feel disposed to write you continuely, and receive no reply, consequently if you are in the least anxious to hear from me, you must retaliate, or expect me to cease writing. Believe me or not but I tell you it is very discouraging to be always writing and never getting any reply...I don't want to go until I think I will be perfectly safe, would love most dearly to spend Christmas and New Years at home and rather think I will, if nothing serious turns up more than I know of now..." [Three pages, 5" x 7.75"]. William Cramer wrote his own note to Milton's mother two weeks later, again giving her news of how her son progressed. His letter of November 26, 1864 details in part: "he is still improving, is up more or less every day, has got a pair of crutches and can get around very well. He is very anxious to make use of his transfer, and has concluded to send for his Father to come down and assist him home...I wrote you a few days ago, giving you as near as I could make the comparison the size of his wound. It is still getting smaller slowly...We have had considerable changing about in this hospital since you was here, two hundred was transferred yesterday to Camp Denison Ohio. Seven ambulance loads came in to-day, bringing I suppose some fifty or sixty men...P.S. In obedience to Milton's request I have given him my photo, which he sends home in this note." [Three pages, 5" x 8"]. A small, yet interesting archive, which showcases the ever-evolving roles that soldiers and regiments had in the Civil War, along with insights into life for those men who were wounded in battle. This archive would be an excellent addition to any enthusiast's collection. Condition: Flattened mail folds to letters, with light edge toning. Minor soiling and foxing to some. A few of the letters have torn or rough edges. Dampstaining to a few letters. HID03101062020 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved