Civil War Archive of Brothers George & James Elliot, 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery, and Edward Elliot, 5th Connecticut Infantry

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American History Auction

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Nov 18, 2016 - Nov 19, 2016

Set Reminder 2016-11-18 10:00:00 2016-11-19 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : American History Auction https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/cowans/american-history-auction-1870
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• Lot Description
  Lot of 55.
  
  The Elliot family had not only one of their eight children at the front, but three. Despite being from the same family, all of the sons had drastically different military experiences. The first born, George, was the first to join. He enlisted on March 22, 1861 as a private, but did not muster into the 1^st Connecticut Heavy Artillery, Co. A, until June 9, 1861. The second born, James, mustered into Co. I of the 1st CT Heavy Artillery on June 10, 1861. The fourth of eight and the last to join was Edward. He lied on his papers and said that he was 18 when he was only 17 years old. He enlisted as a private on July 11, 1861 and mustered into the 5th CT Infantry, Co. D, on July 22, 1861.
  
  James and George adjusted to military life, but Edward did not. That winter, after Edward wrote a distressing letter to one of his sisters, their father intervened. George Sr. wrote to Edward:
  
  It will not be necessary for me to remind you that it was against my judgement and advice that you enlisted. But having done so; no honorable course remains but to persevere till we conquer a peace…you cannot harbor a thought of deserting that would be to become a traitor to the best government that ever existed besides the risk would be more than that of facing the enemy; the penalty of desertion you know is Death; and the chances of being caught would be more than those against it…my dear boy be true to your country and its flag and if you have to meet hardship and danger meet them like a man (Manchester, January 5, 1862).
  
  The letter might have been the last words spoken between father and son, because George Sr. was very ill. In the same letter he told Edward:
  
  I have been at home two weeks sick, first for about 5 weeks I struggle against a hard cold and bad cough working beyond my strength until it ran into dysentery so hard that I had to give up and come home since then I have had a light run of Typhoid fever and now although still bad off with Piles and threatened with liver complaint I am obliged by circumstances to attempt to go to work again tomorrow (Manchester, January 5, 1862).   
  
  A few weeks later, their father succumbed to his illnesses and died. Devastated from their great loss, George and James requested a furlough to attend their father’s funeral but their colonel denied their requests. James wrote to their mother:
  
  George or myself were not permitted to pay the last tribute of respect to our beloved Parent, but circumstances are such as to render it impossible…I went to see the Col to see if it was possible to get a furlough he said that word came to him from Gen. McClellan to grant none to anyone or any time…the sad news was little expected by us since it was only a week since I read a letter from him (Fort Richmond, Arlington Heights, January 22, 1862).
  
  The disappointment and the loss of his father coupled with his dissatisfaction with military life prompted Edward to write a gloomy note his mother. I am sick of this kind of staying here for it is not living to stop out here, wrote Edward (Camp Near Hancock, MD, February 17, 1862). He remained in the army until June, when, against his father’s wishes, he deserted.  Three years later, James witnessed the shame of desertion in his own regiment. He wrote to his mother, A man by the name of Brewer a member of our company who deserted about one year and a half ago was drummed out of the U.S. Service today and given a dishonorable discharge. Six of our recruits have deserted they were regular bounty jumpers I think making that their business (Fort Scott, VA, March 27, 1864). One wonders if Edward suffered the same fate or if witnessing the shame of desertion opened old wounds for James. The family never spoke of Edward or his desertion again.
  
  A machinist’s wife, their mother, Hannah, was left with little money to provide for the rest of her children. Her husband also left some debts. James and George did their best to support her and help her pay their bills. George, however, was less willing to contribute than James. George wrote their mother, In my last letters I told you that not one cent of my money should go to pay Fathers debts while I was in the Army…you may use the money just as you please only you must not use my name when paying any debts contracted by Father (Fort Blenker, February 28, 1863).
  
  George was promoted to artificer before mustering out of service on June 8, 1864. James, however, enlisted a second time. Perhaps you may be sorry to hear that I am to be promoted on account of my having to commence a new term of service, but Mother my duties will be much easier with less responsibilities than what I have had during the past six months, wrote James (Battery No. 4 Near Petersburg, December 4, 1864). By the time of his letter, James rose through the ranks from private of Co. I to 2^nd lieutenant of Co. D. He remained in the service until mustering out of Washington on September 25, 1865.
  
  In addition to the letters mentioned above, the lot includes 5 letters from George, 11 letters from James, and 18 from their sisters Mary, a housewife, and Effie, a school teacher. There are also a group of 20 standard envelopes stuffed with letters between George, Benjamin, Mary, and Austin from 1905-1911, while George stayed at the Soldiers Home in Los Angeles. Also included is a pamphlet on the History of the 28^th CT Volunteers.

  Condition

  Typical folds and toning of the paper.
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