Massachusetts in the Civil War: Letters from MA Regiments

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American Historical Ephemera & Photography, I...

By Cowan's Auctions

Jun 26, 2020

Set Reminder 2020-06-26 10:00:00 2020-06-26 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : American Historical Ephemera & Photography, Including African Americana:Premier Auction https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/cowans/american-historical-ephemera-photography-including-african-americana-premier-auction-5208
Cowan's Auctions is delighted to present the June 26 American Historical Ephemera and Photography Auction, including 55 lots devoted to the African American experience, over 175 lots dating from the Civil War Era, and more than 60 lots documenting life in the American West. Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com

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• Lot Description
  Massachusetts in the Civil War: Letters from MA Regiments
  
  Lot of 37 letters from Massachusetts regiments, including 1st, 5th, 6th, 10th, 12th, 16th, 19th, 21st, 23rd, 25th, 26th, 27th, 32nd, 33rd, 34th, 35th, 42nd and 45th Infantries and 9th Light Artillery and 2nd Heavy Artillery.
  
  Capt. William B. Alexander, Co. E, 23rd MA Vol. Infy. Two letters from Alexander's wife, Mary, to her husband. The first dated Feb. 19, 1862 is an emotional letter not knowing if her husband is dead or alive after the Battle of Roanoke Island (Feb. 8); second Oct. 30, 1862, mostly personal.
  
  John M. Bass, Co. C, 1st MA VI, Fort Scott, VA, Nov. 30, 1862. Typical "lonely soldier" letter.
  
  David Brett, 9th MA Light Arty. Centerville, May 24, 1863. Complains that the 9-month recruits are discharged before they are fully trained.
  
  Col. Charles Russell Codman, 45th MA VI. Three letters to wife, Newbern [NC], Dec. 6, 1862; Kingston, NC, 12 Dec. 1862 (quick note to let her know he is alive after battle); Newbern, 1 Mar. 1863, African Americans armed, court martial of Gen. Stevenson for refusing to fight with African Americans. 
  
  Charles W. Dodge, Co. A, 5th MA VI, Camp Massachusetts, Alexandria, VA, July 15, [1861]. Activities in camp before first Battle of Bull Run/Manassas.
  
  Lucien B. Fifield, 16th MA VI. Camp Hamilton, Sept. 25, 1861. Camp life and army politics.
  
  William E. Foster, Co. G, 12th MA VI, Three letters: Camp near Stafford Court House, Nov. 22nd, 1862 - much dry wit: "If I can get hard tack enough it is all I ask, but as soon as they begin to haul off on that there will be a row in camp." Two from Camp near Belle Plain, VA. Jan. 25, 1863, describing his experience on the "Mud March" (Jan. 20-24), after describing building corduroy roads over the mud in the preceding letter. And Mar. 21, 1863 with comments on men shooting off their fingers "accidentally" to get discharged - at least a dozen in his regiment, 20 or more in the 16th Maine.
  
  James A. Fuller, Co. G, 35th MA VI, In camp one mile from Fredericksburg, VA, Dec. 19, 1862. Muddy marching from Fairfax to Fredericksburg (a month before the "Mud March") and the failed first attempt to take Fredericksburg.
  
  Josiah Fuller, Co. C, 32nd MA VI, three letters from a highly educated Union officer (promotions to Col., brevets Col. and Brig. Gen). Camp near Falmouth, VA, Mar. 15, 1863 - partial letter to wife. Head Quarters Artillery Reserve A.P. near Falmouth, VA, May 29, 1863. Chancellorsville, court martial process. Camp of the 32nd Mass. Vols. (n.d. probably ca. June 12, 1864, based mostly on dates his friends wounded as mentioned in letter) - Cold Harbor aftermath.
  
  Chauncey Holcomb, Co. F, 27th MA VI, Hd Qtrs Reropelle(?) Ranger, Hatteras Inlet, NC, Jan. 13 [1862]: ocean journey from Fort Monroe to Hatteras.
  
  William Howes, Co. F, 33rd MA VI, Atlanta, GA, Sept 19, 1864. Fraternization of Union and Confederate soldiers during an armistice, especially, one guy in 61st Ohio who ran into a neighbor who had enlisted in CSA. This unit left by way of western Virginia.
  
  George O. Jewett, Co. H, 1st MA VI, Camp Banks, Georgetown, DC, July 6, [18]61. Camp antics including a "war dance" around a bonfire.
  
  William L. Ober, Co. D, 19th MA VI. Drummer. Aug. 24, 1864. Describes being nearly killed by a shell the previous day, but not really in any danger. The regiment had not lost any drummers.
  
  Frank C. Park, Co. C, 10th MA VI. Three letters/writings, very literate, engaging his readers. The first a kind of 3rd person autobiography (n.p., n.d.), "Musings of a Soldier" describing his journey from wild youth to patriotic soldier. Describes lands and forts around Washington and landmarks in the city. Camp Winfield Scott before Yorktown, VA, May 2, 1862 - preparation for battle of Yorktown, local scenery. Camp near Yorktown, Aug. 27, 1862 - 13 1/2 pages - long march, journey on steamer, joy of getting a bath.
  
  Richard M. Whitney, Co. G, 21st MA VI. After serving three years, he became an Army forage master. Letter Near Petersburg, Mar. 5, 1865, outlines the job and pay as forage master and attempts to straighten his teeth.
  
  Alden Spooner, Co. K, 32nd MA VI, Camp of the 1st Division SS / Near the Jerusalem Plank Road, VA. Jan. 9, 1865. This Sharpshooter describes a foraging raid that turned to retribution for the death of 3 Union soldiers. Spooner died 1 month after this was written of an "accidental wound."
  
  Samuel H. Putnam, Co. A, 25th MA VI. Two letters, Camp Hicks, Annapolis, MD, Jan. 5, 1862. Describes preparation for Burnside's Expedition to Hatteras Inlet and Roanoke Island, NC. Second from Steamer New York, Hatteras Inlet, Feb. 2, 1862 - still preparing for expedition.
  
  Elbridge Pond, Co. C, 2nd MA Heavy Artillery, four letters. Fort Totten, Newbern, NC, Sept. 27, 1863; Fort Armory, Newbern, Oct. 31, 1864; New Bern, July 2, 1865; Camp Chattanooga near Newbern, NC, July 12, 1865. Three of the letters mention Yellow Fever and men were dying of disease even in July, as the men were getting anxious about being discharged.
  
  Jesse A. Sargent, Co. K, 6th MA VI, Suffolk, VA, Nov. 24, 1862. Telling his wife how to send a box of items and how to make a drilling frock and shirts to send to him, indicating many men wore their own uniforms.
  
  Julius Varney, Co. K, 42nd MA VI, Key West, Dec. 23, 1862, problems with the ship on journey to New Orleans.
  
  Charles H. Wright, Co. F, 34th Regt. Mass. Vols., Dixie Vicinity of Arlington Heights, Aug. 19th, 1862. Trip from Worcester, MA to Washington, DC and the different reception by citizens of Philadelphia and Baltimore.
  
  Henry C. Rice, Co. E, 12th MA VI, Hd Qtrs 12th Regt., Camp near Seneca [MD], Oct. 31st, 1861. Details a long march "for nothing" on muddy roads and visit to 19th MA to see others from his town.
  
  Peley (Peter?) M'Farlin. Boston, Nov. 11, 1864. Letter to father mentions sailor's fair for a Sailor's Home, politics (such as McClellan's chances to win), cranberry prices.
  
  All letters with typed transcriptions. Many have additional research materials. For more detailed questions, please contact Cowan's.
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