Lot of 4 documents from the Civil War, comprising:Bifolium songsheet with manuscript letter dated August 14, 1864. 5 x 8 in. STEELE, Silas S.
New Patriotic and Comic Song, on the Sinking of the Pirate Alabama by the US Gunboat Kearsarge, Captain Winslow. June 19th, 1864. J. Magee: Philadelphia, 1864. The humorous song commemorates the sinking of the CSS
Alabama by the USS
Kearsarge during the Battle of Cherbourg. With an affectionate 3pp. letter from a soldier named Daniel Baker to his wife: "
tell mother to keep up good courage for this war won't last more than a thousand years longer." Partly-printed appointment, 8 x 10 in. First Lieutenant Thomas Scantleburg is appointed to the 2nd Missouri Volunteers of African Descent, December 17, 1863. Noting that he should report to Colonel William A. Pyle in St. Louis, MO, signed by Adjutant General L. Thomas. Formed on Dec. 13, 1863 at Benton Barracks in St. Louis it was sent South and attached to the 1st Division of USCT in Louisiana and redesignated as the 65th USCT in March 1864. They were stationed at Morganza and Baton Rouge for the duration of the war and the early days of Reconstruction. Records show that the appointment was made to Thomas Scantleberry. Originally enlisted when he was 27 on August 14, 1862 at New Auburn, MN as a Corporal and mustered in the same day into Co. H of the 7th Minnesota Infantry. He did indeed accept the promotion offered here, as he was discharged for promotion on Dec. 22, 1863 and was commissioned into Co. K of the 65th USCT as a First Lieut. the same day. He died of disease before the end of the war, perishing on August 1, 1864. Partly-printed Union loyalty oath, 14.5 x 10.5 in. From the Clerk's Office in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Completed in manuscript it certifies the loyalty oath made by John P. Van Bergen on January 12, 1864. Signed by the Deputy Clerk of the Court K. Loew. Signed in response to Lincoln's Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction issued on Dec. 8, 1863. It was under this Proclamation that a state could reenter the Union and reform a state government if 10% of the population signed oath of loyalty. This example is numbered "30" and dated just a month after the Proclamation was made. Manuscript ration list for Co. I of the 45th Pennsylvania Infantry while at Elliott's Plantation, SC, 7.625 x 9.75 in. Caption notes that the list is a "
provision return for Captain F. M. Hills, I Company, forty fifth Regiment of Penn. Vols for six days commencing on the fifteenth day of July 1862. And ending on twentieth day of July 1862." The list details the number of rations needed for 85 men for the 6 days, listing: "
Mess Pork, Salt Beef, Bacon, Beans, Rice, Coffee, Sugar, Vinegar, Candles, Soap, Salt, Molasses, Mixed Vegetables, Fresh Bread." Signed G.D. Smith, Lieutenant commanding Co. I. Francis M. Hills (1829-1915) of Tioga County, PA enlisted at 32 on Oct. 18, 1861 and was commissioned as a Captain into CO. I of the 45th Pennsylvania Infantry. He was promoted to Lieut. Colonel and transferred to Field & Staff on March 1, 1863. He was discharged for disability on August 15, 1864. George D. Smith, also of Tioga Co., PA, enlisted on Oct. 7, 1861 and was commissioned as a First Lieut. into Co. I of the 45th Penn. Infantry. He was killed in action on September 14, 1862 at South Mountain, MD.
Condition
New Patriotic and Comic Song - old folds with short separations along creases. Loyalty oath - old folds, neat reinforcements to creases on verso.