Autograph letter signed by William Duffield McIlvaine (1839-1916). U.S.S. "Agawam", Richmond, [Virginia], 15 July 1865. 6 pages, 8vo, 5 x 8 in. With original envelope with Richmond postal stamp and red 3-cent stamp. WITH Magnolia leaf (approx. L 4.5 in.) in later envelope labeled "Uncle 'Willie'".

A fascinating letter written by a sailor on the U.S.S. Agawam who "toured" the recently fallen Confederate capitol. He writes to his sister about the various sites: "I am very glad to get here and have been enjoying myself very much. Rode all about the city yesterday, visited various places, was through Libby Prison And at Castle Thunder. Was also in the State Penitentiary [and] saw where Dick Turner is confined. Saw him reach above his cell door for a mug of water. If you don't know who he is, you had better enquire. He was the jailor of Libby & starved our men & stole their money. He is now guarded by six of the very men whom he treated so badly as prisoners. They would starve him if let alone. He is getting well paid for all his cribs I am convinced and will probably swing one of these days." He continues: "Was at Jeff Davis's home, saws Gen. Lee's house, was in the State House, and in fact almost everywhere. Coming up the river, saw all the fortifications and Dutch Gap Canal, which is a very small affair - contemptible. We had to run very slowly to keep off of piles, old vessels, rams &c. sunk in the river all the way up here from City Point. On both sides of the river the banks are covered with earthworks and heavy forts. The ground seems to have been dug all over. I can truly appreciate the great work an army had to overcome to get to Richmond. Don't think they could ever get in any other way than by cutting off the enemy's supplies." He continues with a complimentary assessment of the Richmond landscape and architecture, and reports of the souvenirs he collected: "There are a great many fine residences here and much shrubbery, trees, &c. A very pretty public square and I could give you no idea of all there is to be seen. One cannot look any way without seeing some house or object he has not read of during the past four years. I got some leaves from Jeff Davis's yard and some small stones from out of Libby Prison. I got a nice piece of grey cloth such as rebel uniforms were made of in the penitentiary where it was woven. I thought it might do to work something out of - tis only a few inches square."

McIlvaine was a machinist from Salisbury, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Our first indication of his service is a March 1862 assignment to the steam sloop Oneida, where he served until some time in 1864. Five of his letters were transcribed and published on Spared & Shared (May 2022). A letter written to Secretary of the Navy Gideon Wells on 16 January 1864 (available on Fold3) acknowledges the receipt of orders assigning him to duty aboard the USS Agawam as a 2nd assistant engineer.

[Civil War, Union, Confederate, Reconstruction, Navy, Naval History, Manuscripts, Letters, Documents, Ephemera, Souvenirs, POW, Prisoner of War]