Civil War–dated ALS signed “David Nichols,” three pages on two adjoining sheets, 5 x 8, September 22, 1863. Letter to a mother who lost her son at Gettysburg concerning the design of his gravestone. In part: “We are at work on the Marble Tablet for the grave of your son…if you want the names of all the battles put on the stone it will be best to leave a plain band round the stone 6 inches wide and have the band pollished and have the names of the battles cut on the band. The Middle of the stone will be pannelled, it will look well this way, and we can get larger and plainer letters on the band than we could if the band was pannelled. I have drawn a rough sketch on the opposite sheet.” The gravestone is sketched in pencil on the second integral sheet, headed “A young man, but an old soldier,” with the center reading: “Sarg’t Chas. B. Phelps, 5th Reg NH Vol, Co I, died July 4, 1863 from wounds received at the battle of Gettysburg.” Scattered foxing and soiling, otherwise fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope with the stamps clipped out.
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