153

John A. Reynolds.

An officer describes the 11th U.S. Colored Artillery as "affable, courteous, and kind."

Plaquemine, LA, 1 September 1864
Autograph Letter Signed to friend Frederic Vinton at Brown University, Providence, RI. 4 pages, 8 x 5 inches, on one folding sheet; full separations at both vertical folds, minor foxing. With stamped envelope bearing New Orleans postmark.

John A. Reynolds (1839-1866) served in two Rhode Island regiments, briefly enrolled in Brown University, and then left in December 1863 for a lieutenant's commission in the 11th United States Colored Heavy Artillery, a.k.a. 14th Rhode Island Heavy Artillery. 

Here he records his impressions of his troops: "I was happily disappointed in the battalion. The boys make excellent soldiers. They are obedient, respectful to their officers, affable, courteous, and kind. They are certainly more cheerful in performing what is required of them than the generality of white troops. This I positively affirm, from personal knowledge and experience."

Reynolds also has a few words about New Orleans: "A very large but not very pretty city. It is much more vicious, I think, than either New York or Boston. Grog shops, billiard halls and prostitutes in countless numbers meet the eye at every gaze."

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