Civil War Archive of Nathaniel Wells French, 50th Mass. Infantry

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American History: Premier Auction

By Cowan's Auctions

Nov 16, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-11-16 10:00:00 2018-11-16 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : American History: Premier Auction https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/cowans/american-history-premier-auction-3577
Cowan’s Fall American History: Premier Auction features over 200 lots including early photographs, documents, manuscripts, broadsides, flags, and more dating from the Revolutionary War period to the mid-20th Century, many representing important landmark moments in American history. Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com

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• Lot Description
  Lot of 38 items relating to Civil War Assistant Surgeon Nathaniel Wells French (1833-1863) and the extended French family. Collection includes 13 portraits, 1 Abraham Lincoln patriotic CDV, 2 Civil War-era imprints, a square linen handkerchief, and 21 manuscript documents spanning 1816-1866 (majority 1862-1866). Included in the manuscripts are sixteen letters with approximately twelve being war-dated. Among the correspondents are Nathaniel French, his mother, brother, sister, and fellow soldiers from the Massachusetts 50th Infantry.
  
  Nathaniel Wells French of Concord New, Hampshire, graduated with a medical degree from Yale College of Medicine in 1862. On 10/31/1862 he enlisted for nine months service in the 50th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as an Assistant Surgeon. In a letter written from Camp Stanton, Boxford Mass on the same day of his enlistment, he writes to his mother saying in part, "As you will perceive by the heading of this sheet that I am in camp at last, and off for the wars in a few days...through my friend Dr. Stevens I learned of the vacancy of Assistant Surgeon in the 50th Massachusetts Volunteers and I immediately determined to secure the place if I could." French and the 50th Massachusetts would soon depart Massachusetts for New York and a transport to Louisiana. The young surgeon's service to his country would be short-lived, however, as he contracted typhoid fever shortly upon arrival in the Department of the Gulf. He died of disease on 4/21/1863 at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Writing to Sara French about the death of her brother, Col. Carlos P. Messer of the Mass. 50th said of Dr. French, "No one could be more faithful than he was as he made his daily turns among the sick in camp. / As a gentleman he was kind genial and social and these qualities account for much of his popularity among the privates as well as among the officers."
  
  The archive includes the following:
  
  Oval portrait of Nathaniel Wells French, gray-scale watercolor on paper, 7.75 x 9.75 in (sight) framed to 13.75 x 15.75 in.
  
  Sixth plate tintype of uniformed soldier believed to be Nathaniel Wells French, ca 1862. Housed under mat only. Sitter wearing a military frock coat.
  
  Sixth plate tintype of unidentified soldier. Housed under mat only. Sitter wears an infantry frock coat and a kepi, and holds a Colt revolver.
  
  Sixth plate tintype of Cynthia Jane Hunt French (1835-1922), wife of Nathaniel French's younger brother Thomas Clinton French (1839-1913), housed in half pressed paper case.
  
  Sixth plate tintype of unidentified young man standing posed alongside a chair. Housed in full Union case, "Bobby Shafto" (see Krainik- 135).
  
  Sixth plate ambrotype of Mary Ann Hunt Rogers (1840-unknown), sister of Cynthia Hunt French, housed in a full pressed paper case separated at spine.
  
  Ninth plate ambrotype, likely of Mary Ann Rogers, housed in a full pressed paper case.
  
  Ninth plate tintype of a young man housed in full pressed paper case. Sitter is identified inside case, however, faded nature of pencil markings make the text nearly indecipherable. Location is "[Possibly Fisherville] / NH," presumably New Hampshire.
  
  Ninth plate daguerreotype of an unidentified young man housed in full leather case.
  
  Ninth plate daguerreotype of an unidentified young man housed in a full pressed paper case separated at spine.
  
  Ninth plate daguerreotype of an unidentified young man housed in a full pressed paper case. Condition is poor making image nearly indistinguishable.
  
  Two tintypes, one of a woman with a young child and another of an infant in formal dress, in paper mounts and with photographer's backmark of J.C. Batchelder of Nashua, NH.
  
  CDV featuring a miniature albumen portrait of Abraham Lincoln reading to his son Tad placed inside an embossed patriotic border on a cream mat with backmark of A. E. Alden of Providence, R. I.
  
  Selections from the Book of Common Prayer for Missionary and Temporary Services. Boston: Margret Coffin Prayer Book Society. Published by E.P. Dutton and Co., 1862. Interior inscription in ink reads, "N. W. French / Asst Surgeon 50th / Regt Mass Vols / Camp Parapet / Carrollton / L A."
  
  Hand Book for American Citizens. Boston: Lee & Shepard, No. 149 Washington Street, 1866.
  
  Certificate presented to Nathaniel Wells French upon receipt of the degree of Doctor of Medicine from Yale College in 1862.
  
  Square linen handkerchief handed down to descendants of Thomas French and Cynthia Hunt French.
  
  Letters in the archive predominantly include general correspondence to/from Nathaniel Wells French as he finished his medical studies and embarked to the Gulf with his regiment, as well as letters pertaining to the death of Nathaniel French. Other documents include an Inventory of the effects of Nathaniel W. French late Assistant Surgeon and a pension certificate belonging to Mehitable French, Nathaniel's mother.
  

  Condition

  Oval portrait not removed from frame for inspection.
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