Seven Civil War and Post-War Letters with an Anti-Copperhead Booklet

A group of seven letters and one small booklet, dating from 1863 to 1870, with fantastic content from the Civil War and post-war years. The collection has correspondence from a variety of senders and recipients, and discusses topics ranging from daily camp life, to the death of Abraham Lincoln, to a tragic disaster in Richmond, along with anti-copperhead sentiments in the printed booklet. Of varying size and length, including the following:

1. Partial Letter, undated. Signed "Edwin" and addressed to an unknown recipient: "…The picket went out at 8 this morning, we had the usual 6 inspection at 9, shall have dress parade just before sundown, which gives us considerable time to ourselves. I have been reading a book, or rather Lecture, entitled Thoughts for a Young Man, by Horace Mann, it is quite interesting…I hear that our Pay Rolls have been sent by mistake to Washington instead of Fort Monroe, and that we are not likely to be paid for two months to come…"

2. January 4, 1863, Camp Vermont, VA. From Charles S. Hubbard, Co. J of 27th Maine, to Henry: "…although it is pretty sickly in places out here our regiment is the healthiest regiment on the Potomac…I am sitting where I can see the Potomac River and the vessels going up and down. I see the Monitor the other day that we have heard so much told of and spoken of so much in the papers and she was a regular yankee cheese box on a raft…"

3. Partial Letter, November 14, 1863, Camp 13th NH Vols. From Edwin Ware, Company G, to his parents: "…I should like a Diary for 1864. let it be a good one containing an almanac &c and I will try and keep a daily record of events. I should also like some chocolate, it makes a splendid drink when on picket…Two days ago the rebs captured one of our cavalry outposts. They captured 8 men and 12 horses. This was out on the Suffolk road. The rebs are supposed to have quite a force of cavalry out in that direction…(unsigned)"

4. February 27, 1865, Summit Point, VA (Sheridan's Army). Edward A. Green, Co. G of the 8th Vermont to his parents. Letting them know his is well and in good health.

5. April 26, 1865, Gallops Island. George S. Buss, 8th New Hampshire to Henry: "We were rejoicing over Lee's surrender, and thinking how soon the war would be over, and the news of the death of Lincoln seemed to take away all the joy of the news before. It is a terrible blow to the country, and will be felt by all loyal me, but we may hope that it will not prolong the war to any great extent. I think that Johnson will be a good man for his place. He is in for punishing the leaders as they deserve. I hope he will do what is right and be sustained in it by the people. I think Shermans movements with Johnston in regard to terms for surrender are rather bad but he has got orders to resume hostilities and I hope he will capture Johnston soon…"

6. March 1, 1868, Newport News, VA. M.W. Richard Jr. to Henry: "…this was in Meriland [sic] and the night before we crossed the Potomac and the army had not been stopping there and the fences were all standing they were oak railes and the boys got onto them and they tore them down damn about as fast as a man could run…we tore down over 100 rods of fence and the next morning it was all [illegible] and so slippery that a man could stand. That is what kills men and the horses and then battle is what kills them too. Oh, how the dead were scattered around this side of the Rappahannock…"

7. May 10, [1870], Richmond. Unsigned to Lizzie, re: the "Capitol Disaster": "…Oh! What a sad, sad visitation this has been - so many of our most valuable & respected citizens! The newspapers will have given you a better idea of the appalling [illegible] and of the excitement & distress throughout our community…What must have been the sufferings of the victims, and the anguish of their bereaved families…The 3 Ayletts and 2 Brocks now fatherless, others have lost uncles & cousins…The excitement of that memorable Wednesday was succeeded by the deep sadness of Thursday when the awful even began to be more fully realized by the number of funerals, and the solemn tolling of the bells which continued throughout that and the following day…"

8. "A Savoury Dish for Loyal Men", Philadelphia: Printed for Gratuitous Distribution: 1863. 16pp, with patriotic letters from General Rosecrans, Gov. Cannon, Hon. Daniel S. Dickinson, etc. With a "CAUTIONARY NOTE" at the beginning reading, "…A true patriot who prefers liberty to bondage, union to division, honorable war to infamous peace, his country to his party, will relish and grow strong from what is served up to him in this dish. To those who are suffering under the rabid influence of disloyalty, or from the venomous bite of the copperhead, such fare is too rich. It would disagree with their stomachs…"

The letters have expected flattened mail folds with light soiling and some small separations in places. The front and back of the booklet have become separated from the binding, with some minor chipping. Group is overall very good.

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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