CIVIL WAR CORESPONDENCE & DIARIES

698. Historic content with eyewitness color makes this a tremendous missive! ALS, 3pp., minor loss at fold, New York, April 30, 1861, by Marc E. Sand to his brother Henry. He writes of tumult in New York: "I transcribe from my heart, for I have written it there with clenched teeth `the Union must and shall be preserved!!!! These are truly exciting times; New York appears like a vast camp, the streets are full of soldiers... Yesterday the `New York Firemen Zouaves' Col. Ellsworth left in the Baltic. They are all picked men and look as if they would smash the Secessionists all to pieces. However the crack company of Zouaves are the Billy Wilson Zouaves of whom no doubt you have heard. They are the dregs of the city, which none of them try to conceal, but rather glory in it. Billy Wilson gave a speech the other day in which he asked: `Is there any honest man among you?' A young man answered yes, for which he was turned out of the regiment...Brooklyn is by no means behind New York so far as patriotism is concerned...All these things are interesting to you, I know what you want, you want War War War, and nothing but War..." The Billy Wilson Zouaves were mustered in May 1861 for two years and were led by Col. William Wilson of Staten Island. Much more fine content. (Est. $400-600)


"They threatened to treat the woman just as the Negro was treated..." Charles Sumner's legislative assistant writes of women hostages.

699. Remarkable ALS, 4pp., from Washington, January 5, 1864, from Frank V. Ball (assistant to abolitionist Massachusetts senator Charles Sumner) to his son George. He writes of Washington in part: "Only think what a list of generals we have in town now. Genl. Butler, Genl. Burnside, Schofield and half a dozen more. I wish Genl. Butler would call on Mr. Sumner so that I could hear him talk. I enjoy very much the conversation that I hear at his room. The foreign ministers drop in, but then they talk French so I don't understand much of what they say. The other day Prof. Peck was here and told about the contrabands at Norfolk and the raid of Genl. Wilde with his colored troops into North Carolina. He mentioned...that the wife of one of the Captains of Guerrillas was taken and held hostage for a Negro soldier who was captured and it was supposed killed by the guerrillas. They threatened to treat the woman just as the Negro was treated...It seems to me horrible barbarous making war upon women in this way. Suppose they had burnt the negro would we therefore burn the woman?" Exceptional content. (Est. $150-250)

On great, illustrated lettersheet:
"We all look as red as if we were drunkards... there is no chance for a private to git a dram here" but "all of the officers got drunk."

700. ALS, 4ps., Lexington, KY, December 7, 1862, on illustrated lettersheet picturing the great naval engagement off Fort Wright, together with postally canceled, illustrated cover picturing a view of the Capitol in D.C. From William Walker to his parents in Minerva, Ohio, in part (without correction to grammar or spelling): "...I was on camp gard last night. I went on yesterday at 8 o'clock and came of this morning. It rained the hole time like hell and thundered and lightened at a great rate. That was the busiest time that I have had on gard yet. Samuel Haynam came to see us, the 28 of Nov. We were just getting breakfast when he came to camp. He sed he had a big time to find whare we were. He give me one dollars worth of postage stamps and one box of tacks. He donlook like a soldier. His face is to pail. We all look as red as if we were drunkards but there is no chance for a private to git a dram here. We had general review last Friday... We were the best drilled, cleanest, had the cleanest tents and cleanest Camp. Our tent was not in our company and after all of this all of the officers got drunk and had a big time over it. The agitant came out on dress parade and he was so drunk that he could not read the orders. That is the way that it went. They say that we will stay all winter here, but I do not. Now there is prisoners coming in every few days... I was down to the station the other day to load crackers and coffee and sugar and I saw some express boxes there. Some of them were pitched out and bursted and the dam niggers cabbaged some cans of something or other and carried them off. I think if they would put hickory hoops around the boxes and then they would not be so many lost. I guess I must bring my letter to a close. We are all well at present and I reckon you have heard that the dammed old skunk of a Captain Coats has gone home. He filched us down here and now has left us with the dam little shit of a Lieutenant Southworth to galand us around..." A rather forthright letter, minor dampstain at margin, all quite legible. (Est. $250-300)
Click Here to View Image


"I don't think there is any danger of the rebs ever taking this camp... The news from Grant's army is glorious... The greatest lore of the campaign is the escape of John Morgan." A fabulous letter.

701. ALS, 4pp., Camp Nelson, KY, November 30, 1863, on illustrated lettersheet picturing Gen. Franz Sigel in blue surrounded by a red frame, including posted cover with embossed eagle with 34 stars & "Union." From "Bill" to his cousin Maggie, he writes, in part: "...Well Mag, since I wrote to you before we have changed our quarters to Camp Nelson six miles south of Nicholasville, Ky. I am very well satisfied with our present situation. This is the nicest country around here I ever saw except the little Maumee valley. The camp is surrounded on three sides by the steep bluffs of the Ky river and on the north side the fortifications are nearly completed. I don't think there is any danger of the rebs ever taking this camp and if the war news is all true I don't think they will ever try it. The news from Grant's army is glorious and Burnsides is reported all right. The greatest lore of the campaign is the escape of John Morgan from the Ohio Penitentiary. I think he must have had some good friends in the Prison or some on the outside who were allowed to communicate with him." Much more fine content on a beautiful stationery with postal-used envelope. Extraordinary. (Est. $400-500)
Click Here to View Image


On being an "old soldier," a Reb attack, and the '64 election. An extensive content letter.
702. ALS, 10pp., April 2, 1864, Washington, NC, from Jerome B. Baldwin of the 21st CT Regiment to his friend Ellery. In part:
"... for some folks might think that we had lost all self respect in the army seeing that we were old soldiers. To tell the truth they would say that we were badly demoralized. I know a very few of that stamp in the town of Mansfield. But Ellery, I expect to be some wilder than I used to be if it kills a cow. A fellow can't stay in the army three years and come home exactly the same as he left it." Later, he writes: "...Our Rgt. is in quite a different locality than when I last wrote you as you have doubtless learned of this. We are not doing picket duty on the banks... but we are situated on the Far River at a fort that bears the name of Jack Fort. Jack is a small fort mounting two guns for the defense of Washington. Our duty is not very hard at present, have nothing but picket duty to do, and drill once in a while on the guns in the Fort. The Rebs occasionally show themselves in this locality, but in small numbers. There will, I think, be no attack on this place or Newbern unless Richmond is evacuated and the Rebs fall back to N.C. and I don't think that probable. We have been at this place about five weeks and we have about as good a time as we ever have had at any place in the Army." Of local politics, he writes: "...I presume that as this letter reaches you, you will see some of the boys from this Co. Thirteen left for home yesterday to give Wm. A Buckingham a hoist, Geo. French among the number. I doubt very much whether they will arrive in the state soon enough to vote, but whether they do or not, I would like to be one of the party. There has been a continual cursing by some Seymour men in the Co. since they left and I don't think it right myself to send home all Buckingham men, but I suppose if the Democrats were in power they would do the same so I suppose it is all right. I hope that Wm. A. will be elected for I think he is the man for the place. I suppose you will do all in your power to help elect him." Much more great content in this quite lengthy letter. (Est. $300-500)


"My patriotism has been at fever heat ever since Fort Sumpter was bombarded..."
703. An interesting ALS, 4 pp., August 29, 1861 from Wallingford, VT to "Cousin Julia" from "E." In part: "What wonderous changes have come over the land since I saw you! War, which was then hardly in perspective has now become a stern reality, and bids fair to be still sterner. My patriotism has been at fever heat ever since Fort Sumpter was bombarded, and as no alternative but fighting has been left us I want it done in good earnest. Such running as we had at Bull Run does not meet my views at all, but the comfortable home lives which our volunteers have led are not just the thing to make stern soldiers. I have no doubt of the courage of the men who have so readily responded to the call of their country's danger, and we shall yet have reason to be proud of our volunteer soldiering. It is terrible to think of the scenes that must be enacted before this nation can sit in peace under the tree of liberty! God help us, for vain is the help of man! But I must not fill my letter with war and carnage though that is uppermost in my thoughts and often gives charecter to my sleeping visions..." Letter also mentions family and friends including those gone to war. A great missive. (Est. $150-250)

704. Four page Magnus lettersheet featuring two military maps and a depiction of Fortress Monroe in Virginia on the first page. Followed by an ALS, 3pp., written in 1861, with the first 2 1/2 pages in pencil and the remainder in ink. The letter, written in German, appears to have interesting content detailing the events of the day. A fine item!
(Est. $100-200)
Click Here to View Image


705. A Petition to Secretary of War John B. Floyd by citizens of Tecumseh, Kansas Territory to appoint Erastus B. Smith as a 1st Lieutenant in the regular army. The petition is dated October 8, 1858 when "Bleeding Kansas" was a battlefield between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces, both trying to sway popular support when the Kansas-Nebraska Act left the question of slavery in the territory to the popular vote. "One of the greatest rogues ever to serve in high position in both the U.S. and Confederate governments", John Floyd was James Buchanan's war secretary and was later accused of personal misuse of funds earmarked for the Indians. He was later a Confederate general. Erastus Smith later served D Company, 7th Kansas Cavalry through September 1861 through September 1865. A neat item. (Est. $100-200)

706. From a soldier in the 8th PA: "I have reenlisted... for three years more...I suppose Mother will think me rather disobedient..." Fine ALS from Andrew F. Missimer, 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Camp near Warrenton, January 20, 1864, together with postal-canceled cover addressed to his sister in Jersey Shore, Pa. The letter reads in part: "....we had got our winter Quarters built & was pretty comfortably situated, so you can imagine our dissatisfaction at getting the orders to move camp. We got the orders about noon, we commenced to pack our saddles & was ready to move about two o'clock, but as usual we did not get started until near night and arrived at this place about one o'clock at night & bivouacked in a field for the night...I have saw and went through many hard storms and marches...It commenced snowing the night before our march & snowed to the depth of three or four inches and cleared off cold. You can just bet there was a great many hard words made use of that are not found in the Bible...There has two hundred & twenty men re-enlisted in the Regt. They were mustered in a few days ago and payed [sic] off they received over two hundred dollars....I did think that I would say nothing about it until I came home. It is this, I have reenlisted as a Veteran volunteer for three years more...I suppose Mother will think me rather disobedient, but when I received her request - it was too late..." (Est. $200-250)
Click Here to View Image


707. A medical officer in the 98th NY on passing soldiers and upcoming campaigns. Extensive 12pp. ALS from Sylvester Willard, Lt. (later Captain) 98th NYInf., Albany, December 6, 1862, with postal-canceled cover addressed to his brother in Connecticut, it reads in part: "I think I told you...of my interview with Col. Rucker the Quartermaster of Transportation...and of my posting over to General Meigs office for the same purpose...All utterly refused me transportation...Crossing the Delaware river at Philadelphia I met Mrs. Genl. Terry who came on the cars at Baltimore...by the Fortress Monroe Boat...I did not endorse the sentiments of the Vermont Colonel. I can foresee that we may, if we will, occupy Richmond in thirty days. If Banks with 50,000 men goes up the James River & Burnside with 120,000 presses forward from Fredericksburg against the broken columns of the Enemy, why may it not be so. It seems to me that such is the plan of the Campaign. My labors as Medical Examiner were great....My report was first to the Surgeon General...My examinations are known to have been rigid, yet my rejections are only 1 in 3 1/10...My article `Medical Examinations' is in the Medical & Surgical Reporter just received...." Much more. (Est. $200-300)
Click Here to View Image


708. A member of the 38th NJ on failed peace negotiations with Confederate Vice President Stephens. ALS, 4pp., from Elijah R. Robinson, 38th New Jersey Infantry, pencil on lettersheet including patriotic embossed design, with postal-canceled cover addressed to his sister. Reads in part: "...the peace question is about played out. That Vice President - Stevenson (sic) would come to no terms but to recognize the independence of the Southern Confederacy. I think the commissioners that met him from the North ought to have hung [him] immediately. Rumor also says that Fort Darling the main fortification of Richmond has fallen into our hands..." Great history. (Est. $100-150)
Click Here to View Image


709. A member of the 9th NJ on "whipping the Rebels... (we) are going to kill them if we can." 3pp. ALS by Henry Vannest, 9th New Jersey Infantry, on red and blue patriotic lettersheet with the words "The Union and the Constitution must and shall be Preserved." From Washington, D.C., December 27, 1861, with postally canceled transmittal cover, it reads in part: "...I know we are whipping the rebels every day or two they had a battle Tuesday and we whipped them and we have fifteen thousand surrounded and they are marching right on the damn Rebels and are going to kill them if we can. I hope that we will succeed in the war..." Vannest enlisted in September of 1861 as a Corporal and mustered in F Company and was discharged exactly four years later. A fine expression of patriotic fervor. (Est. $100-150)
Click Here to View Image


710. On collecting rations. ALS, 3 pp., April 2, 1863, New Berne, NC., from Vic Champlin to his father Elias. He writes, in part: "Father, yours of March 22 came to hand last night. It found me in good health with considerable business on my hands. But so far I believe I have given good satisfaction to the officers above me in rank if not in capabilities. I came up from town about 1/2 hour ago. I have to go to town abut five times a week after rations and other articles. I have a horse at my command most of the time. The distance is about too [sic] miles or more. I then have to issue out the rations to five different squads of men with about sixty in a squad. It is some trouble to keep an account of the items. I think the exercise is good for my health. Rumor is afoot here this afternoon that we will be attacked here before morning. They have been having a little brush about 18 miles up the river. We have not heard how the affair ended or whether it has ended at all yet..." Victory Champlin enlisted in October 1861 at the age of 22 as a Private. He mustered into Company K, NY 56th Infantry and served until mustering out in April of 1865. He was in numerous actions including Malvern Hill, Yorktown, Charleston, and the Seven Days' battles. A fine letter. (Est. $80-120)

Written just after Gettysburg: "God in his great mercy has spared my life... We have got Genl. Lee on the skedaddle."

711. ALS, 2pp., July 17, 1863, from Theodore A. Goff of the CT 5th Regiment, Co. G, to his "Beloved Mother." He writes, in part: "...I should have written to you before, but we have been on the move all the time and I have not had time. But God in his great mercy has spared my life through all of the late dangers and how thankful we had ought to be that I have the privilege of writing home to my Dear Mother when so many of my comrades lay cold in Death. We are expecting to cross the River tomorrow into Va. once more. We have got Genl Lee on the skedaddle and I guess our Genls intends to keep him going and I think our prospects looks bright now and I hope the nation will..." Much more fine content. Goff enlisted September 1861 and didn't muster out until June 1865. He earned a promotion to Corporal in 1862. At Gettysburg, his regiment reached the field on the evening of July 1st. It was put into the line of battle on the right of Culp's Hill on the morning of the 2d, and at once built strong earthworks along its whole front. Towards evening it was marched over to the left to support Sickles, but after he had fallen back to his new line was ordered to return to its own works and position in the line, but found them in possession of the enemy. In attempting to take possession of them again the men were fired upon, and several were wounded and captured. The next morning, while the residue of this division were storming and retaking their own works, the Fifth was detached and sent farther to the right, to support a battery at first, and afterwards to support the cavalry, and served with them during the remainder of the battle. During Lee's retreat the Fifth was in advance of the pursuit as far as Warrenton, VA. A fine, historic missive. (Est. $100-150)


712. On New Year's rations and living in a slave cabin. Fine content ALS, 3pp., January 2, 1865, Savannah, Georgia, from F. Thayer to his wife. He writes, in part: "When I wrote you last I was in the City proper. We stayed there ten days and left. Went back to our Brigade wich [sic] was in camp about two miles, we have to keep with the General and staff officers. We are now in camp on a plantation on the banks of the Savannah river, one of the most beautiful places that you can imagine... It contains the mansion wich [sic] the officers ocupy and forty five slave huts, one of wich we ocupy .... We now have full rations wich is as much as we can eat...We had a great time the night before new years. We had just come from the city and had not time to pick out quarters that night so we went into the quarters of the 2d brigade band wich were there. They also were from Massachusetts. We had all gone to bed when an orderly came in and wanted both bands to come over to headquarters and such a time I had not seen for some time the drunkist lot of officers that I ever see. I had to take some whiskey that night. They wished me a happy new year a thousand times. But enough of this. We were mustered in for our pay Saturday for two months, and as soon as the rolls reach Boston, you will get your pay, somewhere about the fifteenth of January..." More content, quite fine. (Est. $100-150)


713. "Our men shelled the Rebs out of the woods and the 87th Pennsylvania charged bayonets on them and drove them back over the mountains." ALS, 6pp., Winchester, Va., April 30, 1863, light age/toning, from a soldier named George to his home and friends. He writes in part: "Since I last wrote you we have had a big old march or scout. It seams the Rebs had concentrated a small force at Strasburg about 19 miles from here so Milroy sent our regt 116th several companies of cavalry, 4 pieces of artillery to drive them out and sent a large cavalry force out the other way to cut off their retreat. We went and drove them out and the cavalry did but they slipt [sic] the other force some way so it didn't amount to much. We lost one man killed and two wounded. We took several prisoners and killed some of them. They took all their wounded off with them. The cavalry done all the fighting. We didn't get a sight of them. This all happened on the 22d. We slept on the ground that night. It commenced to rain in the evening and rained all night like the old harry [?]. Got up next morning and started back to Winchester arrived about three in the afternoon. Rained all the way back. We took our blankets only so we didn't have much to carry... It still kept on raining. Next morning we were ordered off on another scout north: 5 days rations but where we didn't know but it seemed we were ordered to Morsefield [?] as the rebs had concentrated a right smart force there with the intention of making a raid on the Band... The first day we marched 28 miles, the furtherest we ever went in one day. Stopt at night we had no tents so we had to sleep on the ground. Next morning, Sunday we started on our way rejoicing, but only went 4 miles when we suddenly came to a halt. There was a river and the bridge was gon and we couldn't get acrost so we went back to the place we started from in the morning... Next day Monday, started again made some Pontoon Bridges of wagons and plank... The scouts came up and sayed the Rebs had skedaddled so we turned around and went back to our old ground. Stayed all night in our old place again. Next morning started on the march again and went around by Strasburg again to drive the Rebs out. Got there in the afternoon when the cavalry had another brush with the Rebs which proved harder than the other. There was 5 or 6 of our men killed and several wounded. Our men shelled the Rebs out of the woods and the 87th Pennsylvania charged bayonets on them and drove them back over the mountains. Stayed on the ground again that night. Started next morning yesterday for Winchester and got in about three oclock, all safe and sound. Thus ended our successful scout. Was gone 5 days and marched over 100 miles. The boys were tired when they got back with sore feet...." (Est. $150-200)


714. "We have exchanged our old muskets for the Springfield rife, considered the best piece in the service." ALS, 2pp., written from William Radcliff, "Camp, 143 Reg't N.Y.S. Vols. near Upton Hills, Va.," January 22, 1863, to Elias Champlin. He writes, in part: "The health of the Regt is generally good. The second death in the regiment at camp was Francis Abberley, a member of our Company who died on the 13th... All together we have sent six men from our company to hospital at Washington, of these three have returned to duty, one regularly sent back & two skeedaddled from convelesant [sic] Camp & joined us because they fared better in camp with the Regt than at the convelesant camp. We have exchanged our old muskets for the Springfield rifle, considered the best piece in the service. The colonel effected the exchange without going to our brigadier & he was much surprised to learn that we had them as we are the only Regt in the Brigade furnished with them...." Much more fine content. (Est. $150-200)


Needing "suggestions in regard to negroes" and how much they should be paid. Important wardate discourse on employing "contraband" soldiers.
715. ALS, 2pp. with 1 page response on verso, Headquarters, Suffolk, VA, October 12, 1862, from Benjamin B. Foster to Colonel Daniel Tompkins Van Buren. Foster (1831-1903) commissioned in I Co., ME 11th Infantry then transferred into US Vols Adj. Genl. Dept, was promoted to Colonel. He writes: "General Peck wishes me to write you, unofficially, for some suggestions in regard to negroes. They are coming in here in greater numbers than can be `advantageously employed' and it is a matter of some perplexity to know what dispositions to make of them. Those that are employed are, by G.O. No. 109 Adj Genl's office, of Aug. 16, `62, to receive `reasonable wages.' Has Maj. Gen. Dix ever established the rates at which they are to be paid? If so I shall be glad to learn what they are, as well as to receive any other regulations touching this subject. Upon assuming command here Gen. Peck found them at work in the Quartermaster Department at wages varying from $8.00 to $45.00 per month. I remain, Yr. obet. servant. Benj. B. Foster A.A. A. Genl." Daniel Tompkins Van Buren (1826-90) a brigadier general, graduated from West Point in 1847, fought in the Mexican War, began the Civil War as artillery captain in the 20th NY Militia. He was chief of staff for Gen. Dix and Asst. Adj. Gen. for Hooker. He responds on the integral leaf to Foster: "The contraband question is as you say a vexed one. No positive instructions have ever been received, as regards their payment or employment. Such as you referred to. I understand that they receive wages here from $5 to $10 per month with a ration each. As to who pays them I cannot say - except such as are borne on the quartermaster's rolls. & then they are are paid by the quartermaster's employees. Respectfully your obt. svt. D. Van Buren A.A.G." An important missive. (Est. $300-500)


Just before being taken prisoner: "There is one chance out ten for us to enter the battlefield and then one chance out of 10 of being killed. That makes 20 chances of being laid by a bullet."

716. ALS, 4pp., on illustrated lettersheet depicting the capitol building in blue, from Butler Comstock, 3rd Regt., Excelsior Brigade, to his former teacher, Mr. Love, back home in Jamestown, NY., from Camp Cowdwell, Washington City, Sept. 1st, 1861. Comstock writes "I am well and enjoying good health, and feel contented with this mode of life, though I have to go through with hardships, and do away with many comforts of life, but after all there is a particular charm to camp life which seems to carry out human nature. When one has to stand on picket guard near the enemies lines all night, and have the rain come down so that the water will run in the road six inches in depth, and then think it all fun, must have some desire to soldier life. A life of hardship and outdoor life, I should prefer in preference to any other. I have slept in the mud cold and wet and not even get any cold, at least I have not had a cold since leaving Jamestown. When I was going to school last winter and fall I catched cold every week, nothing is more injurious to the health than living in a house or being kept warm and dry by a shelter. More exposier [sic] and less high living is what a great majority of the people need and I think the soldiers are healthier as a general than they were four month ago. this is all my opinion about our life, yet I may be wrong in it... Soldiers here are making calculations to live as well as those who are not engaged as far as being killed in battle. There is one chance out ten for us to enter the battlefield and then one chance out of 10 of being killed. That makes 20 chances of being laid by a bullet...I can not write any more at present for the mail is going out and we have got to prepare for inspection of arms by Gen. McClellan..." Butler Comstock (1840-72) enlisted as a Private May 1861 at the age of 21 into Company B, 72nd Infantry Regiment, New York. He was taken POW May 5, 1862 at Williamsburg, VA after being severely wounded in the field. He was cared for at a Confederate hospital and paroled the following week. Shortly thereafter he was discharged because of his wounds. A great, Civil War letter. (Est. $150-250)
Click Here to View Image


Just after the firing on Fort Sumter:
"I had a Union cockade on my breast, which I always wear now. These are stirring times... even when the momentary successes of the traitors have seemed most galling, and loyal indignation has made me curse them with a curse which I could readily drive home at the bayonet's point."
717. Lengthy 8pp. ALS, Troy, NY, April 22 through 24 1861, from a young man to his fiancee in Brunswick, ME. Together with stamped postmarked cover with a red and blue illustration of a waving flag. Wonderful content written a week after the surrender of Fort Sumter, in part: "I made a short call after tea at the home of Mr. Freeman, one of the wealthiest of our Trustees. His daughter Mary asked me if I would enlist. I answered, not unless it should become necessary. She replied `No, Gentlemen think it is all well enough for the Irish and common laborers to go and meet the enemy; but they prefer to raise flags and wear cockades at home.' I had a Union cockade on by breast, which I always wear now. The taunt from her was a trifle to be laughed at, but from you it would either drive me crazy or make me a soldier...as most our girls here seem to be made of such stuff, can you wonder at the spread of the volunteer spirit? There is a body of soldiery here called the `Troy Citizens' Corps' incorporated by the State, and made exempt from militia duty except in case of actual invasion or insurrection, and organized for the protection of the city against disorder and violence. Their Captain Shields, is an officer of experience, who served in Mexico... I have offered myself as a member for the sake of obtaining some practical knowledge of military drill and discipline... You need have no fear that I shall be hurried by the enthusiasm that military associations may kindle, into any rash enlistment for service. Your wish is final on that point, unless an absolute demand should arise for my personal service...The terrible excitement of the country, the apprehension of general calamity... makes me cling more closely to your dear image...These are stirring times...This morning as I drew near the P.O...a member of the `Troy Citizens' Corps' stepped to me and ...invited me to drill with them every night at the Armory...Were I in the ranks today, charging for our flag and our homes, the strength of my arms would feel itself yours, and be doubled; with a light heart and a firm step I should march onward...I think the hallowed memories of such a conflict, of the danger and privation and weary patience that would come to me, and the still sadder portion, the helpless fears and anxieties that would be yours, would in after years be as trophies and rich ornaments about our hearth...There has been no moment, even when the momentary successes of the traitors have seemed most galling, and loyal indignation has made me curse them with a curse which I could readily drive home at the bayonet's point...when your love has not been lord of every pulse within me...Your are more to me...than the Country is; and the life that I would lay down at the bidding of patriotism only with some regret and in the field, is yours to give or take...I could not fight for civilization and mankind, as I could fight for you...The news from home is stirring. My brother expected to march today. The country around West Chester was in great excitement, apprehending a raid for plunder by the border Secessionists. This afternoon I visited the Watervliet Arsenal...They were shipping vast numbers of rifles to New York and Philadelphia, preparing gun-carriages, etc. In one building, some fifty boys were engaged making cartridges and rockets. It looked strange to see them sitting quietly at their work, with heaps of powder before them, when a spark from a cigar or a flint would blow the whole crowd into another world. Many hundreds are engaged in preparing the different munitions of war; among them, a large number of women making cartridge bags. My colleagues talk of nothing but the trap I fell into, in joining the `Citizens' Corps'. They insist that it was my offer of my name that decided them to volunteer in a body; and they make great efforts to tease me about the unpleasant details of a soldier's life..." Much more fine content - a tremendous Civil War missive. (Est. $250-300)
Click Here to View Image