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THBLetters From Three Civil War Soldiers, 1st US Infantry and 99th Indiana Infantry
About Seller
6270 Este Ave.
Cincinnati , OH 45232
United States
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About Auction
LiveOct 31, 2018
Cowan's is honored to present the Magnificent Sword Collection of William Koch in its two-day firearms, militaria, and American history auction. Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com
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- Lot Description
Letters From Three Civil War Soldiers, 1st US Infantry and 99th Indiana Infantry
Lot of 31 letters, plus discharge document.
The first group relates to George M. Alverson, Beloit, WI. Alverson enlisted as a captain on June 19, 1866 for a 3-year term and was assigned to Co. A, 1st US Infantry. He received a brevet major during his service. His discharge paper is included in the lot, although there was a transcription issue and the form is made out to " Alowson ." Twelve letters addressed to Mother and/or the " Folks at Home " are included from Alverson, and are written from New Orleans, August 24, September 8 and September 13, 1866; Fort Pike, LA, March 17, 1867 (St. Patrick's Day, which he notes at the top); New Orleans Sailors Home, June 22, July 2, and July 6, 1867; Greenville, September 2, 1867; New Orleans, December 5, 1867; Amite City [LA], December 29, 1867; New Orleans, January 14, 1868; and Sedgwick Barracks, Greenville, October 7, 1868.
The majority of the letters concern family and friends, since the war was over, and this unit was not sent West to fight Indians. It was part of the occupation force of Reconstruction, and most of the activity was guard duty. He does not seem to have been impressed with the South. In his St. Patrick's Day letter, he writes: " There is know [sic] knowing when you will get this letter wether[sic] you will get it at all or not, because the mail don't leave here only by chance and comes by chance. I think it is a God forsaken place anyway ."
He also is not impressed with black soldiers and hopes General Hancock will drive them out of the army. On August 23 his tent mate, Nathan Brazier, died of yellow fever. "[I] t was like taken a brother away from me ."
The next group of letters may relate to Henry Alverson. Consignor identifies them as relating to John Alverson, but we did not find anyone by that name in the Civil War Database. Henry Alverson, also of Beloit, served in a 100-day unit, enlisting in May 1864 with the 40th Wisconsin Infantry. He received a promotion to commissary sergeant in August. Henry's wife was named Mary, and she applied for a pension from the state of Iowa, suggesting some of these letters could be from this branch of the family. The letters include:
• Pewark? March 5, 1863, to " friends " from Mary.
• Janesville, May 11, 1863, to " Mr. Alverson " from S.L. James
• Wheatland, IA, Jan 22, 1863, " Dear Cousin ," from AA Bennett. Cover addressed to William Alverson, Beloit.
• Tompkins, October 19, 1863, Dear Brother & Sister from Wm Alverson
• Buffalo, June 29, 1865, Dear Brother & Sister from R.G. Snow
• [illeg], August 31, 1862, Dear Brother, to W. Alverson from John Alverson
• Warrenville, June 10, 1861, Mrs Rhoda Alverson, Dear Niece, from Sophia Griswold
• Winnetka? August 11, 1861, Aunt Rhoda & Will from Mary
• Sheridan, March 20, 1850, Dear Cousin, signed by Will and Rhoda Alverson and 2 Joneses.
The third group is related to Hiram B. Mathews (Matthews, Matthew), 99th Indiana Infantry. Mathews enlisted in August 1862, possibly in response to Lincoln's call for troops in June-July 1862. The letters include:
• Camp near Louisville, September 8, 1862
• Camp Noble, IN, September 12, 1862
• Camp Noble, IN, November 9th, 1862
• Camp Noble, IN, November 17, 1862
• Camp Sulivan [sic], Indianapolis, November 20, 1862
• Camp Sulivan, Indianapolis, November 30, 1862
• S??? Tennessee, December 29th, 1862
• Fort Pickering, Memphis, TN, January 16th, 1863
• Corinth, MS, January 25th, 1863
• Corinth, MS, January 29th, 1863
• Corinth, MS, August 1, 1863All addressed to his wife, Elmira. The first few letters merely reiterate the fact that he does not feel well, the reason he did not participate in a battle early in the enlistment. By November 30: " i will have to go on duty after to day whether i am able or not for the Doctor wont exempt me any longer and the boys, some of them begins to grumble some of them has gone so far as to say that i am not sick and never have been... "
January 25, 1863: " i got a paper this morning and it says that the rebbles is at Pittsburg landing and that is only about twenty miles frome here and if it is so we may have a fight soon and if we do i expect to be with them and fight as hard as i can. "
According to the Civil War Database, Mathews was discharged March 31, 1863. This makes the August letter from Corinth a bit confusing. Things seem to be getting tight at home, since Mira is talking about selling the horse. Hiram wants her to think hard and be sure she can do without him, or use the money to buy another younger horse, but he does not know what they are worth these days.
The 99th Indiana went initially to Louisville, then spent the winter on guard duty. With the new year, it was assigned to the Department of the Tennessee, and in May headed for Memphis, then Vicksburg. It is not clear how much action Private Mathews saw.The last group is a bit stained and torn. Most are readable, but there are a couple letters with missing paper, and one had faded and is difficult to read. The others with some toning, as expected.Condition
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