"In him I lose one of my best men."

Autograph letter signed by Captain William W. Hull, Co. H, 17th Illinois Infantry. Camp near Vicksburg, Mississippi, 16 June 1863. 2 pages, 8vo. With original envelope with Memphis, Tennessee cancel.

A tragic and graphic letter penned by Captain William Wesley Hull to Margaret Van Pelt Millison, informing her of the death of her husband, Private John Millison (1828-1863).

The letter reads in full: "Dear friend, it falls upon me to break to you the painful intelligence of the death of your husband, John Millison. He was struck yesterday while on picket or skirmish duty with a piece of shell weighing seven pounds. It struck him near the stomach. He lived about thirty minutes and expired. In him I lose one of my best men. We all mourn his loss and sympathize with you in your bereavement. We gave him a decent a burial as most soldiers get at this time - better than some. I had a box made for him which is unusual at this time. He had not money nor effects about his person except pocket knife and comb. Have them in my possession and if possible will get them to you. He has three and half months pay due him. I will forward to Washington City his final statement papers so you can get the amount due him."

The verso of the envelope bears a pencil inscription that reads "death news" and the verso of the bifolium reads "keep this."

John Millison served under Hull in Company H of the 17th Illinois Infantry, enlisting on 25 May 1861. Together they fought at Fort Donelson, the bloody Battle of Shiloh, Port Gibson, and Champion's Hill. Millison met his demise on 15 June 1863 on the picket line near Vicksburg. Never returning home, he is interred in Grave 4520, Section G at Vicksburg National Cemetery.

Enlisting as a first sergeant on 25 May 1861, Hull was promoted to the captaincy of Company H of the 17th Illinois by August 1862 for "gallant services on the field." He writes here with both compassion and graphic detail, learning after a year of penning similar missives that widows often sought to understand the particulars surrounding their husbands' deaths.

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