Description:

Civil War Letters 32pp from a Variety of Soldiers and Citizens on the Homefront on Patriotic Stationery

This collection of 9 letters and a North Carolina railroad ticket capture the variety of experiences of the Civil War, ranging from college students worried about examinations to a daughter concerned about the health of her mother. Soldiers crave treats from home, vow to defend Washington at all costs, complain about the weather and the food, and describe battles with mosquitos and poisonous snakes and the tedium of camp life.

[CIVIL WAR.] Archive of Civil War-era letters, 1861-1865, 32 pp. Several on patriotic stationery. Some toning and soiling on folds; very good.

Contents and Excerpts
- James S. Lemon to Alonzo P. Heywood, June 11, 1861, Troy University, Troy, New York, 3 pp., 5.125" x 8.25", On patriotic stationery with color image of American flag.
"Well Alonzo P. things are now going on hugely in reference to College matters. We are cramming for Examinations. They commence on Saturday. The University closes on the 19th."
Troy University operated under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Troy, New York, from 1858 to 1861, when it closed. James S. Lemon of Rochester, New York, was a junior there in 1861.
Alonzo P. Heywood (1838-1870) was born in Princeton, Massachusetts, with the surname of Hoar, but it was changed to Heywood by an act of the legislature in 1848. He died in Denver, where his brother was a well-known merchant.

- Lizzie H. Houghton to Mother, October 9, 1861, Byron, Maine, 4 pp., 5" x 8", on stationery with color print of seated woman with shield and liberty cap and slogan "Give me Liberty or give me Death!"
"Father's men came last night to repair the saw mill he pays the two dollars a day it will take them two or three weeks."

- Lizzie H. Houghton to Mother, October 24, 1861, Byron, Maine, 4 pp., 5" x 8", on stationery with color print of seated woman with shield and liberty cap and slogan "Give me Liberty or give me Death!"
Postscript of Maria to Mother: "I send you Lizzie's letter as you desired. Seth has been home to day I expect for the last time. Oh! I feel as though it was indeed the last time, and I feel more anxious now that he is Lieutenant than when he was gone before; for the officers are so much more likely to be killed."

- Nelson Newton Glazier to Alonzo P. Heywood, February 4, 1862, West Wardsboro, Vermont, 2 pp., 5.25" x 7.75", with red and blue patriotic borders.
"I am teaching at West Wardsboro, Vt. And my school closes in about four weeks; I purpose then to send you the money. I shall send you a check, I think, as that is the best way, is it not?. .. I am having a very pleasant school this winter; fifty two scholars; we have an excellent Lyceum, where I pitch in every time so far. Last week we had a great discussion on the Question
"Ought the present Congress to pass a law for emancipating all the slaves in the states now in open rebellion against the U.S.?"
"If I do not go to the war before, I should probably return to college next fall—to Brown I think. I shall probably not return to Amherst as I should want to graduate with '63 if I graduate at that college."
Nelson Newton Glazier (1838-1922) was born in Stratton, Vermont, and attended Leland Seminary, Amherst College (1858-1861), Brown University (1864-1866), and Newton Theological Institute (1866-1869). He served in a variety of ranks from private to first lieutenant in the 11th Vermont Volunteer Infantry and 1st Vermont Heavy Artillery. He lost his left arm at the Battle of Spotsylvania in May 1864 and was honorably discharged in September 1864.

- Heman H. Burpee to Elizabeth Houghton, March 5, 1863, Camp Fort Lyon, [Virginia], 4 pp., 5" x 7.75", on stationery with color printed slogan, "Dedicated to the Gallant Defenders of our National Union," and a wreathed color image of the goddess Liberty.
"it is quite healthy hear now but still our hospital is full yiet. there is a great many sick with a cold the weather being changible. I have had a bad cold and almost sick. I was on guard fryday night I sufored with the cold, but I feel well to day and the rest of the sterling boys are all well."
"we are now five companyes of us ingaged in building a fort, we are arranging our forts so that we can take the command of the potamac river, we have to shovel gravel six ours a day and at 5 aclock Pm., we have to come out at desporade"
"there is but one small caverely doing picket deauty between us and the enemeny, the enemy are within 8 miles I must say that we canot see much sines of the wars closing yiet we are paciently amusing ourselves for a desperate trial if they come to meet us. if they come in contact with us, our remains will all bee at fort lyon for we never shall run from it for we are surving in the defence of Washington. as long as we are hear we shall surport the capitol our moto is fight or die give us libertee or give us death"
Heman H. Burpee (1824-1886) of Sterling, Massachusetts, was a private in Company C of the 34th Massachusetts Infantry from July 1862 to June 1865.
Fort Lyon was a timber and earthwork fortification south of Alexandria, Virginia, part of the defenses of Washington, D.C.

- Theodore F. Mansfield to Cousin Willie, April 30, 1863, Camp Lee Batchelers Creek, [North Carolina], 4 pp., 5" x 8".
"I suppose in the course of a few days my appetite for goodies will be at its highest pitch. For I hear that you and the good folks at Newton have sent me another box. Oh how my mouth waters when I think of it."
"We are to join the regiment tomorow morning to do provo duty in Newbern. Wont that be nice We also expect to return to Newton in six weeks.... I think some of traveling to the white mountains when I get home and camp there about a week. I shall be happy to have you accompany me if you would like to."
"My face and hands are covered with Moskitoe's Bites Every day we are chased by snakes four and five feet long. They are called Copperheads and Mocassins."
"I have searched the woods all through and found every variety of flowers that are in bloom here now. Find them enclosed. I am afraid you will be disappointed in receiving the Rebel Postage stamps for we will go in another expedition I guess But if we do I will get them for you if I can."
"Newbern is one mass of shelter tents there is estimated to be forty eight thousand troops in Newburn."
[Includes dried flowers and ticket for passage on Atlantic and North Carolina Rail Road from Kinston to Goldsboro, 1 p., 4.75" x 2.5".]
Theodore F. Mansfield (1844-1913) of Newton, Massachusetts, was a private in Company B of the 44th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.
Bachelor's Creek flows into the Neuse River, must north of New Bern, North Carolina.

- Warren B. Foster to Friend [?], March 13, 1864, Fort Norfolk, Virginia, 4 pp., 5" x 8".
"we have first-rate times out hear only the Quotermaster cheats us out of about half of our rartions and so we dont get about half enuff to eat so we have to live rather short you ote to be out here and here the grouling that ther is in the Camp. every time that the men go to the cookhouse after ther meals they comense to grumble."
"the fort that we ar at now has not got a gun on it it is cept for a prison it has been turned over to the navey. I don't think that we will stay hear long. There is not many prisnors hear now for we have sent them to point lookout we sent about a 140 rebs a short time ago"
Warren B. Foster (1845-1910) of Danvers, Massachusetts, was a private in Company K of the 2nd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery from December 1863 to September 1865.

- Edwin Kimball Foster to Jacob C. Conant, December 23, 1864, Fort [W?] Hospital, 4 pp., 4.75" x 7.75", on U.S. Christian Commission letterhead.
"We line surgeon and attendants mean to have a supper you will have no objection I trust"
"Our company is down to falls church been there some time they have built them some long hut to live in [? ?] on picket It must be quite cold for them I guess they will leave there soon to the front in the Spring see if we don't"
Edwin Kimball Foster (1838-1914) was a private in Company M of the 4th Massachusetts Heavy Artillery.
Jacob C. Conant (1845-1924) lived in Ipswich, Massachusetts, and was a second cousin of Foster.

- [William?] H. Speller to Friend Corgin, May 19, 1865, Fort Williams, Virginia, 3 pp., 4.5" x 7.125".
"I think the war is about plaid out don't you think it is they have got old Jeff now and his whole staff and I hope they will string them up I should like to be one to do it.... I am glad the war is most ended and then all soldiers can return home to theare friends again and enjoy that's good Blessings which we all need. Well Corgin I guess we have got the victory at last and I hope we will hold it."

William H. Speller was a private in Company A of the 1st Battalion of Massachusetts Heavy Infantry.
Fort Williams was a timber and earthwork fortification in Alexandria, Virginia, part of the defenses of Washington, D.C.

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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