New York in the Civil War: Letters from New York Regiments, with African American Interest

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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
  New York in the Civil War: Letters from New York Regiments, with African American Interest
  
  Lot of 71 Civil War letters from soldiers serving in New York regiments including the 44th NY “Ellsworth’s Avengers,” Excelsior Brigade, and the 96th US Colored Troops. Highlights include:
  
  A hastily penned letter was written by Henry H. Hitchcock of the 12th New York, Co. A to his father on July 19, 1861 from camp near Bull’s Run, just 3 miles north of Manassas Gap. Hitchcock describes the skirmishing in the lead up to the First Battle of Bull Run, “Had a battle with the Rebels. New York 12th & 1st Mass. went into a piece of woods to drive the Rebels out. Fired 7 or 8 rounds. Lost about 20 men in both, I guess. Am safe. Expect to have another row before long. Battle lasted about 2 hours; don’t know how many we killed of them. Weather hot. Was in the hottest of the fight. All but 3 companies of our regiment retreated. Companies A, I, & part of E stood our ground. Our officers Captain Church, Wood & Randall are true men – stood firm like good soldiers I tell you. Can’t write much more. I have not time.” Hitchcock survived the Battle but was wounded on Aug. 23, 1861 at Ball’s Cross Roads, VA and would die of disease on Sept. 21, 1861 in Washington DC at E Street Infirmary.
  
  An interesting letter is penned by Henry F. Babcock of the 122nd NY, Co. I who was stationed in Washington DC in the War Department during December 1863. In a letter to friends on December 7, he describes the scene in the capital when the Goddess of Liberty was raised to the top of the newly finished capitol dome and the salute of guns to celebrate the event, “At half past 12 o’clock a signal was given that all was complete and then arose one deafening cheer from the vast assemblage. The signal was conveyed to the many forts around this city and for half hour it was one continual roar of heavy artillery.” He also mentions the arrival of the Russian Fleet in the Potomac. While historians are divided on the motivations of Alexander II, Babcock formed his own theories for their presence, “They are fine model wooden vessels to be sure but our Ironclad the Sangamon, which was at this navy yard a few days ago, would blow them all out of the water in less than no time. I think it is the object of their visit to get the secret of our monitors and the heavy metal which they carry. I don’t think Uncle Sam will let them into these important secrets, right off at least. I think he is foolish if he does.”
  
  Joseph W. Foster was originally enlisted into Co. A of the 110th NY on Aug. 1, 1862. Military records note that on Nov. 13, 1863 he was detached with the 2nd Louisiana Engineers and then joined the Corps de Afrique, which became the 96th USCT, per the orders of Gen. Banks in April 1864. Foster was white, as indicated by his vital statistics, and seems to have entered into the 96th as a 2nd Lieut., and at some point promoted to 1st Lieut./Adjutant. Included in this archive are three letters written by Foster, two when he was still serving with the 110th, and a fascinating letter penned on May 24, 1864 to a friend (possibly brother) when he was stationed on Matagorda Island, TX with the 96th USCT. He writes of the failure at Matagorda Island, “These are gloomy times for us in the Department of the Gulf, at least it seems so to me. General Banks with his grand army has fallen back to Lines Port a small place near the mouth of the Red River. We are daily expecting transports to take us to New Orleans, and from there we expect to be sent up to the front. Matagorda Island is to be evacuated and the fortifications we have been months in constructing are to be left for our enemies.” He also reminisces a riveting story of searching the residence of a southern woman when they were informed that a soldier had been murdered there. When searching for a missing revolver he questions the woman, “I said madam we have good reason for thinking that you have a revolver concealed about your person. Now I expect you to tell me the truth. Have you got a revolver about your person? She said it was an impertinent question and she should not answer it. 'Very well if you refuse to give it up I shall have you searched for that revolver I must have.' She spoke up very sharp 'Who will search me?' I said 'this colored woman will search you if necessary.' She turned her face from me as scornfully as possible. 'It is a likely story that my own servant will search me.' I said, 'Madam that woman is no more your servant than I am. She is just as free a woman as you are.' I then told the woman she was free and asked her if she would search the Madam and get the revolver for me. 'Yes sah.'” The old woman proceeded to feign swooning and Foster eventually found the revolver, loaded with one empty chamber. "I asked her how that came unloaded and she said her husband shot the soldier with it and she told him to do it. I then asked her what she intended to do with it and she said 'shoot another Yankee soldier.'"
  
  A small group of letters included here were written by Alonzo Bell (1836-1906) who served just 30 days as a volunteer in Co. H of the NYS Militia. Bell would go on to a fairly illustrious political career serving notably as the Asst. Secretary of the Interior under President Hayes, was the US Government representative at the driving of the golden spike when serving as an inspector on the Northern Pacific Railroad, was elected to the NY State legislature in 1895, and spent his late career as an Anti-Tammany Hall Assistant Tax Commissioner in New York City. The three letters here, dated July 22, 23, and 27, 1863, were written to his mother near the end of his enlistment. He writes of escorting Rebel prisoners and deserters to and from Fort McHenry. In a charming passage in his last letter, Bell perhaps foreshadows his future prospects with his comrades, “We had a pleasant stroll around the Capitol. We had the House of Representatives all to ourselves. We organized and had some genuine sport. Speeches were delivered and debates on public measures allowed with as much gravity as if the representatives of the people were in session. From this hall we proceeded in body to the Senate chamber and took formal possession of that hall also. I acted as President of the Senate and made two or three neat speeches, all relating to public or camp officers. …Taken together it was a jolly good greeting and will long be remembered by the Veterans of the Army of the Potomac. Thus you see Mother we have some fun to mix in with the serious.”
  
  Francis G. Trowbridge enlisted in Brooklyn as Corporal into Co. D of the 139th NYV and mustered in on September 9, 1862. He wrote on several interesting subjects in 6 letters included in this archive written to his mother and sister. In his first, dated Feb. 8, 1863 on lithographed Camp Hamilton/Fortress Monroe letterhead, Trowbridge writes of the mustering of the USCT regiments and his desire to join their ranks, “Negro troops are becoming quite popular and already there are a great many applications for positions as Officers over them. I do not think there is any one whose application is ahead of mine.” In his final letter written on Nov. 16, 1863, he continues to be impressed by the African Americans writing about their performance glowingly, “We have been well supported by two regiments of colored troops whose valor cannot be excelled. They can out march a horse; they marched thirty miles in one day without breakfast to start on and were not halted for dinner. And not a man of them straggled or rode a mile while our regiment rode all the way in army wagons and were well guarded on the journey by the Negro soldiers.” On July 19, 1863, he writes poignantly to his sister about his disgust over the draft riots in New York and what they represent to the war effort overall, “The riotous proceedings that have taken place within the week that is past in N.Y. City are indeed disgraceful both as a city, a state and a nation. We ought to be thankful the work of suppressing this Rebellion is so near completed. Let us have but a partial support from the people North and we shall put it down in spite of all the aid and comfort given to Jefferson Davis and his hordes by these vagabonds and thieves of our great cities. This whole Rebellion is now resting on the partially closed hand of this nation, yet powerful. One finger after another is closing upon the enemies. They will all, both North and South, yet be crushed in this powerful hand. How wicked, just at a time when our armies are everywhere victorious instead of rendering thanks to God for the success that has attended our efforts men resort to all the iniquity, the worst depredations upon life and property are committed.”

  Condition

  Various, some envelopes included. 
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