They wrote letters to people back home as often as they could and described battles, comrades and the places and the things they had seen during the war.  Their stationary was often given to them by volunteers from the U.S. Sanitary Commission, a group of volunteers that supplied the army with items they needed and couldn't readily obtain.  Soldiers letters required no postage as long as the words "Soldiers Letter" was written on the envelope by an officer or chaplain.

Families and friends wrote to their soldiers and the mail was delivered to them in the field whenever it was possible.  Their deep rooted patriotism was made known through what we now refer to as "patriotic covers," envelopes with patriotic themes and phrases that were printed on the front.  This idea originated in the North and soon became very popular. Letter writing was the main form of communication with loved ones at home and letter writing helped to relieve boredom. Almost all soldiers asked for their parents, friends, wives and sweethearts to write back right away as there were few pleasures greater than receiving mail from home.

The common soldier rarely attended school after the 4th grade.  This is very apparent in their letters when read, as the spelling is phonetic and there is no punctuation.

All Civil War relics we sell are genuine and meet our fastidious criteria for authenticity. They are accurately described here and are sold as such. Every relic is accompanied by a sealed Certificate Of Authenticity and is guaranteed for life to be genuine. 

Of course, if you want to haggle the old fashioned way with us about the price of any item, feel free to e-mail us with your best offer! Just because you are purchasing online, does not mean Rothchilde Antiques doesn't listen to you!  Some relic prices are firm, but all offers are carefully considered. Contact us anytime should you need more information about any of the relics we showcase, we truly enjoy hearing from you!

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