AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED (ALS)

Letter. Near Fine. Four-page letter on a 10-1/2" x 8-1/4" sheet folded in fours. It appears that this is the last four pages of a longer letter of unknown length, SIGNED by “Lieut. J. Glendinning” to an unknown recipient. Much content including discussion about the 12th Army Corps under Union General Henry W. Slocum. In part: "All of the supplies from Washington reach here by boat and thence transport by cars to Falmouth opposite Fredericksburg which is 16 miles distant." He speaks of the variety of people--some happy, some sad--that he sees here: "Twas the other night whilst having in charge a detail of men working on the Dock, a lad came forward & wanted the assistance of 4 or 5 men to help him on the boat with a box-- he had been to Fredicksburg [sic] and was now returning with his deceased Father and this is what the box contained. Poor boy! I thought, how sad must be the home to which you are going." He describes empty coffins piled high on the wharf. "Nothing keeps me in the army but a sense of duty I feel.... The associations of the army are anything but congenial to the Christian-- every action, every feeling, in fact everything seems to be done regardless of Christianity. Profanity & wickedness are exibited [sic] to an alarming extent.... Never have I felt the need & use of religion anywhere like in the army." He concludes by saying that he would like to see Bloomington again [apparently where the recipient, his friend, lives] and will do so once he is home.