“A BITTER, WOUNDED UNION SOLDIER”

Autograph Letter Signed, “H.A. Derry.” Four pages, 4 3/4" x 7 7/8". Stanton Hospital, Washington. January 24, 1863. Derry writes to his mother, in part: “My dear kind and loving mother ... glad to hear that you were all alive and kicking. I am well but I cannot kick much yet with only one leg. The Doctor had thought to put a poltice [sic] on ... after being here over a month well as much as any one can expect from one of these Doctors out here I have not got my money yet and I don’t know as I ever shall but they have goin [sic] to pay up some of the regts. And I expect ours will get paid ... I do not know whether Alden’s is any more than a flesh wound or not if you know I wish you would tell me. What does Charley think of Burnside, our Division had a review the other day and Burnside come around and gen. Howard commander of our division and took his hat of and sung out now boys three cheers for Burnside but not one man cheered him rather hard don’t you think so ... you say that you suppose you must direct your letter to Lieutenant Derry ... I think our first sergt. Had ought to of had it before me I do not call it any honor to be promoted in this army any way. It is a disgrace for a man to be in it any way for we are all fighting for niggers. I think but then if I am Lieut. I shall try and do my duty the best I know how ...” Condition: Extremely Fine. A member of Company D in the 20th Massachusetts Regiment, Horace Derry was taken prisoner at the Battle of Balls Bluff and was held prisoner at Richmond. Subsequent to his exchange in 1861, Derry was wounded at Fredericksburg and spent six months at Washington’s Stanton Hospital.