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Lot 88
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John Brown Gallows Relic, Sent Home with Important War Dated ALS from MA Civil War Volunteer
John Brown Gallows Relic, Sent Home with Important War Dated ALS from MA Civil War Volunteer
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Description:

Brown John



John Brown Gallows Relic, Sent Home with Important War Dated ALS from MA Civil War Volunteer

 

A prize for any Civil War collector!

 

The lot is comprised of a remarkable war-dated letter, a General McClellan patriotic postal cover, and a wood fragment from abolitionist John Brown's execution scaffold, complete with handwritten period provenance!

 

The 4pp war dated ALS is inscribed overall and signed by John E. Bean, a private in the 13th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, as "John E. Bean" at the center of the fourth page. Written outside Front Royal, Virginia at a Union Army encampment located 70 miles west of Washington, D.C. on June 13th of an unspecified year. By consulting regimental histories, we know that the 13th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers was encamped around Front Royal between June 1 - June 16, 1862; we can thus extrapolate that this letter was written on June 13, 1862. On cream blue-lined bifold paper. Expected paper folds, some well-creased, and isolated stains, else very good to near fine. 4.75" x 7.875".

 

The letter is accompanied by a wooden fragment salvaged from the scaffold of John Brown (1800-1859). The firebrand abolitionist had been hanged for murder, treason, and inciting slave insurrection in Charles Town, Virginia (modern day Charlestown, West Virginia) on December 2, 1859. The fragment is stored loose in a rolled paper fragment inscribed: "I will send you a biece of the gallowes that John Brown was hanged on." Charlestown was located only 35 miles to the northeast of Bean's encampment near Front Royal. With some acid burn from the wood fragment, else near fine. The wood fragment measures 1.375" x .125".

 

The lot also comes with a vividly colored patriotic postal cover depicting a bust portrait of Union General George McClellan. The envelope is inscribed "From 13th regt Mass Vol Co C Capt Pratt" at top and addressed to "Miss Helen M. Bean / North Reading / Mass." Bearing a cancelled 3 cent carmine George Washington stamp postmarked November 1861 from Hagerstown, Maryland.

 

The significance of Brown's hanging relic is self-evident, but the New England soldier's letter must not be overlooked. Bean enlisted in the Massachusetts 13th on June 29, 1861, and was discharged on December 22, 1862 after sustaining wounds at the Battle of Antietam. Bean provides us with valuable insights about what he perceived to be disorganized and incompetent Union leadership.

 

Irvin McDowell (1818-1885), who had been promoted to Major General of Volunteers and the command of I Corps in mid-March 1862, was the target of Bean's sharpest criticism, and in this, Bean was not unique. McDowell was universally disliked by his troops. He reduced the number of their supply wagons, replaced their large tents with pop-up dog tents, and drilled them mercilessly in hot weather. He was also suspected of having Southern sympathies. After McDowell's role in the crushing Union defeats at First and Second Bull Run, he was relieved of his command.

 

Bean and the rest of the Massachusetts 13th stalked Stonewall Jackson's forces in the Shenandoah Valley until June 17, 1862. They then participated in the summertime battles of Cedar Mountain (August 9), Second Bull Run (August 30), Chantilly (September 1), and Antietam (September 17.)

 

Bean's account of everyday living conditions reveals the underlying logistical problems facing the Union Army. Bean railed against war time privations, which often included short rations, insufficient shelter, and grueling marches. The sick and wounded were left to fend for themselves, and as his letter illustrates, they were literally turned away from doctors. This is an especially poignant point of Bean's letter when one considers that, at the end of the summer, Bean himself would be one of those invalids begging for transport from an artillery wagon.

 

This outstanding letter has been reproduced in full, with unchanged spelling and punctuation:

 

"Camped Near Front Royal Va. June 13

 

Dear Mouther

 

The details of our last march I gave to you the last time I wrote to you I Will tell you the rest now as at least tell you the way the great Gen McDowell prepaires his men to Win Battles I mean the way volentiers who pledge their lives to fight for their country are used wehen their is no possiable use of it. our Dir Gen ords marched 60 miles in 3 dayes besides being Wet through evry night being Without Rations 86 hours of the time + the Worst of all Was after aver takeing the enemy + haveing a Superior force Dare not attack him so much for Gen. McDowell the man that kept 12.000 twelve thousand reserve behind his Waggons + Won the great Victory for the Union at the Battle of Bull-Run some say that Gen McDowell was not at the Battle of Bull-Run July 21st 1861 But Was in Washington just gitting over a Drunk of the day before But I dont think this is true But I think he has bin Drunk ever since it has has bin said

 

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by the past Generals in the field that tho fatigued +c of this Brigade for the past 3 Weeks was anough Was anough to Discourage the past of Regulars + anough to Demoralise eny armey in the World But hear We are now We have layed still a No of days + have begun to pick up a little our Regt which ust to Report 800 men for Dupty now Reports between 600 men as for an Hospital When in camp We have none When eny one is sick he has to lay in his own tent + if Very sick send him of to Washington or Alexandria + When we are on the march their is nothing brovided for the sick if a man if is sick + falls out on the march he must one of the two chances for his life 1st is to try + git on some of the teams on Arthilery secondly to Work his way to some house + run the resk of being killed or taken prisenor their Was one case am knowing to on our last a young man by the name of Wheeler of Co. H. Was on the same as tonight + the next day we marched + it Was a Very hot day indeed + he not feeling Well fell out of the Ranks + Went to the Dr. + asked him if he could not put him

 

[page break]

 

him on some team stateing that he did not feel Well all the reply tho the Dr. made Was I cant help it if you are sick you must keep up With the Regt. upon this the young man turned + Went in the Woods + lay down he never got up againe for When he was found he was dead he died With Words of a cruel man on a Whiskey band or as some say a Dr of the 19th Regt Mass Vol was aging in his years (?) + if their is such a places as Hell + Heaven, the former Will go to the later + the later to the former Well anough of such men as Dr Whitney I suppose When he is home he asks visates such places a drinking Saloons as are kept on North. It Boston. Dear Monther I received your letter tho if you say your health is not good + that you have some ideas of goeing down East for your health + I should advise you without further hesitation to do so Health is evry thing riches cannot be compaired With it if you do go home five my love to Grandmouther + father + the rest of the folks. be shure to give my love to Grandmouther mouther I have often cryed about her When I would git to thinking of my home in Maine mouther do

 

[page break]

 

you think god ever made anouther Woman like her I got thoes two papers that you sent me with your last letter I see Sumener every day he is well + enjoyes good health + we talk + Build Big castels in the air. Better Build them in the air then not atall

 

Their I cannot think of eny more this time I will close by bidding you good by + hoping to see you in Maine before your Return

 

yours truly

 

John E. Bean."

 



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