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Lot 68
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Group of 20 Civil War Letters, Including Battle of Williamsburg Content
Group of 20 Civil War Letters, Including Battle of Williamsburg Content
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Description:

Group of 20 Civil War Letters, Including Battle of Williamsburg Content


A group of approximately 20 war-dated letters, along with additional post-war letters and transmittal covers. Various sizes. Many are addressed to Captain George Dimock of the 1st Connecticut Artillery. Other letters are correspondences to and from military camps across the country, ranging from Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Washington, D.C.


One letter contains fantastic content of the Battle of Williamsburg, where McClellan's forces clashed with Johnston's and Longstreet's troops at Fort Magruder. Three days after the battle, on May 8, 1862, an unidentified soldier wrote of the engagement to his brother. Written on "Union Forever" stationery, it reads in part [with multiple spelling and grammatical errors]:


"...they rebels dident show eny fight at Yorktown the retreated from on Saturday night last back to Williamsburgh. wee started on Sunday morning we come through Yorktown on Sunday morning at ten oclock. the where very strong fordifide in Yorktown. whee come on on they road to Williamsburg there was about two hundred ahead gon in a cavalry. the scrimage with some of the secesh in the woulds there was two of our own men kill and four of the rebels. the rebels retreated by that time wee encamped there all night then the next morning we come on tords Williamsburg our regiment was on ahead we come up inside of the fortifications and seen the rebels had made a stand there...it was raining all day it was awful mudy for to go through and then have to right right a way it was a verry hard fight the kept the firing up all day and through the night the rebels retreated back toards richmond..." [4pp, 5" x 8"].


There is also an excellent letter that discusses the state of the Union Army and rumors spreading around the country about state loyalties. In a letter dated September 6, 1862, from Suffolk, Virginia, John Franc writes to his friend J.D. Shoman about a recent engagement and dispels news rumors. It reads in part:


"...You are aware of our leaving Harrison's Landing we layed at York Town till the whole army was shipped off then we marched to Fortress Monroe and layed there five days then we were shipped here. We landed here on the 31st so we are separated from the Army. Our Brigade is the only one that was sent here this is a fine camp and we have pretty good matter but I think that it is unhealthy here for we are surrounded by swamps but we will have to stay till we are taken away again. you say that you head that our Army was nearly all destroyed in the Valley. This is false. Our Lieut Colonel came from Washington on the 4th he says that we were whipped and part of the Army had to fall Back but the loss was very heavy on both sides. our loss was near twenty thousand but is not destroyed yet and it is true that they have been in Manassas but I dont think they are there now. as for their taking the Capital that is impossible. they may gain their independence and everything else but I dont believe that they can ever get inside of the Fortifications of the Capital. You spoke of Illinois going for the South. I do not see how such stories get around. there is not a state in the Union that is getting her men faster than she it. I do not think that they will have to draft much if any. Ogle Co. has raised six full Co for the last call and is getting up another. As for her going for the South that is not so there are some few men on the Southern Border that would go for the South if they dared to. Brother Jacob has Enlisted and has gone into camp. I do not know how Farmers will get along next year if the war keeps on. They will have to let their land lay. Father has seven work horses and no body but a boy to work them. He is not able to work himself..." [4pp, 4.75" x 7.75"].


There are a few letters from soldier Roswell H. Ryan, 142nd NY Regiment, who spent time in hospital after falling ill at camp. Writing from Stanton Hospital in Washington City, Ryan shared with his mother some of the recent news. In part: "...I feel quite well this morning. It is a beautiful morning the regiment of the white house marched by land to Yorktown then Boats to Washington then the cars to the front...I do not want you to feel alarmed for I am all right. the Hospital is much nicer here than the one was at fairfax seminary. there is quite a number of wounded here all doing well. We have had Glorious victories lately Vicksburg, Port Hudson, besides some other matters...I know not how long I shall be here. I shall go to the regiment as soon as I can. it is 5 months since we were paid." [3pp, 5" x 8"].


Finally, there are two moving letters from a young woman, Nellie R., to Captain George Dimock, regarding the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. The first, dated April 17, 1865, was written just two days after Lincoln was shot and clearly demonstrates how the country was reeling after the news was received. It reads in part:


"...Do be very careful not to expose yourself, unattended near the Rebels, for I surely believe that, even those, who have surrendered and are allowed so many liberties, would not hesitate to murder and of our brave soldiers if they could do so. If they do not hesitate to murder Our beloved President, in so public a place as a theater, I certainly think they would improve an opportunity, which might present itself in a less public place. While we were still rejoicing over the recent victories, the news of the President's death come to us. The most intense excitement prevailed down the street Saturday, after the terrible news were received, and scarcely any business was done the remainder of the day. Flags have since been at half mast and shrouded in crape. The Churches, Stores and many dwelling houses are decorated with flags or 'Red white and blue' and black. I wish you might be home to spend the fourth of July with us, but I fear you cannot be. I think it will be less probably, since this last great calamity has befallen us. We have had good news today, that Mobile is taken by our forces. I hope that it will not be contradicted to-morrow. Sometimes we have good news one day and on the next it will be contradicted, and reported even worse than we first expected..." [4pp, 5" x 8"].


The second letter, written a week later, continues to discuss Lincoln's death and the end of the war. It reads in part: "...There were services at all the churches and there was a long procession here last Wednesday, in commemoration of the death of the President. Many houses were draped in mourning. The people here are now talking of the terms of surrender, between Gen. Sherman and Gen. Johnston, very disapprovingly...I received a letter yesterday from my Cousin Stephen Babcock, at Portsmouth Grove Hospital, saying that last Friday a transport arrived there with 298 sick and wounded soldiers. He says 'they were not, only sick, but ragged and dirty,' and that most of them were brought ashore on stretchers. Three died before they reached the Hospital, and many others were not expected to live. Most of them came from Rebel prisons. It does seem to me that we are treating the 'Rebels' with a great deal more kindness, than they deserve, after they have [illegible] our poor soldiers so badly; not that I feel so very revengeful towards them, but id does not appear to be doing our Army and Navy justice..." [5pp, 5" x 8"].


A very fine collection of letters for any Civil War enthusiast! Letters show varying degrees of wear, soiling, creasing, and toning. Many have retailed their original transmittal covers. 


This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.



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