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"Capt. Allen believes in the Catholic Religion...."

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 Capt. Allen believes in the Catholic Religion....
Letter of Union '1st Lt. Benjamin F.] Cook, "Camp of 12th Regt., Mass. Vol., near Seneca Mills," Nov. 3, (1861), 4 3/4 x 7 1/2, 3 pp. To Mrs. Julia F. Cook, Gloucester, Mass. "...The worst storm that we have had...our tent was wet through and mud up to our ankles in our tents. Everything was wet that was not locked in our Trunks. The wind blows in our tent so that I can hardly write. I have to hold the paper with one hand and write with the other. If I have the opportunity I will have my Picture taken and sent to you. If we go into winter quarters I shall make arrangements for your coming out here. I have just come in from Church Service. He had a very small attendance. The Capt. tells the men that if they do not want to go they need not, so they did not come out, only about 20. Capt. Allen believes in the Catholic Religion and Saunders does not believe in the Bible, so he says, but he is such a queer fellow that one does not know how to take him. I was the only Officer of our Company present. I am in command of the Company now. Capt. Allen is on detached service for a few days...learning to throw up entrenchments and fortifications...We did (not) carry more to Church was because the mens clothes were wet...." Trivial foxing, else fine. By 1864, Cook rose to Lt. Col. There was considerable anti-Catholic sentiment in the nineteenth century; mention of Catholicism in the military is seldom encountered.