Reading Mass. Aug. 16^th 1863

 

Friend Richardson,

                                    I have very sad news to write in regard to Corporal Henry P. Elliott, and should have written directly to his wife, but feared the effect of such sudden bad news.

                       

Will you therefore please hand this letter to Henry Elliotts brother and let him state the facts of the case to Henry's wife. He can probably break the news to her gradually and gently.

                       

Corporal Henry P. Elliott of my Co. was somwhat unwell at Mill Dale Miss. and when we left that place he was carried on board the steamer Planet and placed among the / sick in the Hospital. On the 7^th inst. he was suddenly taken much worse, & during the day and night of the 8^th he lay perfectly insensible to everything around him. About two O.Clk. P.M. on the 9^th inst just as we ran into Memphis Tenn. Corporal Elliott expired, without a groan, without a struggle, unconcious that his end was so near. He died of malaria fever brought by the excessive heat of the cimate, and the awful hardships and toil of the Campaign through which he had just passed.

                       

His body was carried to "Overton Hospital" Memphis and was decently interred in the hospital graveyard of that City.

                       

Corporal Elliot was a man whom I admired and / respected, my grief was great at his fatal illness, but all our efforts to save him were unavailing & he now fills a soldiers grave in Tennessee soil.

                       

He did not die in battle, but his fatal illness was caught while he was toiling for his imperrilled Country, and the people of his native town can but respect his memory, and count him as one of their Heroes.

                       

He has been in two Battles, and in each did his duty nobly and well, fight as a New Hampshire boy will fight when he meets the foe, and has gained a name for courage, patriotism, and fidelity, of which any man might well be proud.

                       

I considered him to be one of my best men, had / promoted him once for good conduct, & should have been glad to have promoted him again as soon as practicable. Such Soldiers as he was are an honor to his their State, deserve our honest, hearty praise, and I would all able-bodied New Hampshire boys would emulate his example.

                       

I am home on furlough of thirty days, and shall soon be in Lisbon soon enough I hope, to hear Henrys funeral sermon, if one is preached

                       

Please give my love to W^m & to your family, & I shall be with you in a few days.

                                                                       

Fraternally Yours

Geo. E. Pingree

Capt. Co. G. 11^th N.H.V.

 

W^m M. Richardson

Lisbon

N.H.

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