Civil War
Connersville, IN, April 4, 1865
Civil War ALS: Capture of Richmond "cannon are booming" 5 Days Before Appomattox
ALS

A Civil War-dated letter written just five days before the Battle of Appomattox Court House. 2pp (front and back), measuring 5.5" x 9", "At Home" Connersville, Indiana, dated April 4, 1865. The letter is written by Tom M. Little and addressed to Sam Hamilton who, it is presumed from context, was fighting in the Union Army. Little inquires about the health of his friend and mentions the capture of Richmond. With flattened folds and a small tear at the left edge. Light uneven toning and soiling throughout. Very good overall.

In part:
"Your long silence makes me alarmed lest the Johnies [sic] or the D___l has claimed you I hope none of these fears may be realized, and that you still live to remember your friends with an occasional line at least once in six months. I will write but little this time as this letter may not reach you and that would be a great loss?Labar is a prisoner and the cannon are booming over the capture of Richmond I cannot write much for thinking of it. Thank God that den of Harlots and traitors will no longer hide them. Write as soon as you can and I will answer immediately though I am two letters ahead of you yet?"

The Battle of Appomattox Court House on the morning of April 9, 1865, was General Robert E. Lee's last-ditch attempt to break through the Union forces to his front in order to join his army with the Army of Tennessee. He had had to abandon the Confederate capital of Richmond, after the nine-and-a-half-month Siege of Petersburg and Richmond, and his retreat had been cut off by General Philip Sheridan's Union infantry and cavalry forces. Upon realizing that he was wildly outnumbered and cut off, Lee knew he had no choice but to surrender. The signing of the surrender documents by Generals Lee and Grant occurred in the parlor of the house owned by Wilmer McLean. On April 12, a formal ceremony of parade and the stacking of arms led by Confederate Maj. Gen. John B. Gordon to Union Brig. Gen. Joshua Chamberlain marked the disbandment of the Army of Northern Virginia with the parole of its nearly 28,000 remaining officers and men, and effectively ended the war in Virginia.

Samuel Hamilton is a common enough name that it would be impossible for us to concretely claim to know what became of him. However, while researching soldiers of that name who served in Indiana regiments, we found two entries in the Civil War Database that might be tied to this letter. The first is Samuel Hamilton who served in the IN 25th Light Infantry, who was killed at Nashville on December 22, 1864. The second is Samuel Hamilton who served in the IN 30th Infantry, who died at Annapolis on February 9, 1865. It is also entirely possible that Hamilton survived the war and was reunited with his friend following the conclusion of the war.

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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5.5" x 9"