1863 Civil War Letter — Col. Nicholas L. Anderson, 6th Ohio, Seeing After Horse

Description

Colonel Nicholas L. Anderson of the 6th Ohio Volunteers was concerned about his horse when he wrote this brief letter to Lieutenant Henry M. Cist in December 1863. Colonel Anderson, who had been recognized for bravery at Stones River and Chickamauga, writes that he wishes to “send a man to Nashville after my horse, fearing he may be lost if left unattended to.” He continues, “My brigade, I learn, is not yet near here and I am too sick today myself to bring this document.” The Colonel hopes to cut through the red tape by requesting a furlough, presumably to go to Nashville himself. If his request is denied, however, “I shall certainly not grumble, but patiently await the return of intermediate commanders.” He closes the letter “hoping the urgency” of his need would be “a sufficient apology for troubling you.”
The letter was written on one page of a 5” x 8” bifolium letter sheet. It is in excellent condition with just the lightest toning. Creased at the original fold. The letter’s transcript follows:
Camp 6th Rgt. O.V.I.
Dec’r 18th / 63
My dear Cist
I wish very much to send a man to Nashville after my horse, fearing he may be lost if left unattended to. My brigade, I learn, is not yet near here and I am too sick today myself to bring this document, so I take the present informal way of procuring a furlough, provided it is, this this case, advisable. If not, I shall certainly not grumble, but patiently await the return of intermediate commanders. Hoping the urgency of my need will be a sufficient apology for troubling you, I am
Yours truly
N.L. Anderson
Col. 6th Rgt. O.V.I.
Lt. H.M. Cost
A.A.G.
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