Head Quarters, Cavalry Forces,

Mil. Div. of the Gulf

San Antonio Texas

August 9^th 1865

 

M^r Altland

                        Sir

                                    I have deemed it my duty, as an intimate friend of your son, to forward to you, (probably in advance of more official information) the following painful intelligence—Your Son Philip G. Altland was very sick on the 3^d of July, when our Regiment, with the expidition, commenced the march from Shreveport, La. to this place. I, with others, tried to persuade him to remain behind at the Hospital, but as he had often recovered from a similar / indisposition very rapidly he was determined to attempt the march. At the end of the 2^d days march he was left at Marshall, Texas, with a high fever. My position in the line of march did not permit me to see him during these two days but seldom. I saw him immediately before he went to the Hospital. He was very sick, but I thought he would be able to join us again in a week, at the longest. during the march, despatches were received from the rear, and among them the distressing intelligence of his death. I think the date of his death was the 9^th instant. I have had no opportunity of writing to you until the present, or of forwarding a communication / if I could have written, as we were on the line of march & reached here only on the 1^st inst. It will be the duty of his Company Commander to forward his final papers to Washington (including his Inventory of Effects account of Pay &^c) where you can make your claims. (I think to the 2^d Auditor of the Treasury).

 

            I was a brother Sergeant with him from enlistment to June 23^d/65, have always shared the same bunk with him, and can sympathize deeply with you in your loss. No man in the Company was more respected, nor could the loss of any one of the Company be more deeply felt. I have been recently detailed as clerk at the Headquarters mentioned in the address of this letter / where you can direct for any information that I have omitted or am able to give. If you should wish and to address me at a more remote period. my address as a Citizen, will be, "No. 70 John St. corner of William St. N.Y. City"—or at residence of my Mother, "Avon, Conn."

 

Deeply sympathizing with you in your loss

 

I remain

Yours truly

William W. Avery

Co. "F" 18^th N.Y.Cav.

 

P.S. I understand the Physicians report his death to be caused by chronic Diarrhea—It seemed to be me to be a fever                                                 

Avery

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