Auction Name: 2026 February 26 Historical Manuscripts & Texana Signature® Auction

Lot Number: 47122

Shortcut to Lot: HA.com/6328*47122

Civil War Soldier's Letters (2) Recounting the Death of Elmer Ellsworth and Transmitting a Relic. Two letters (on small bifolia, about 5 x 7 inches each) dated June 30 and July 4, 1861; totaling seven pages written by William J. Dinsmore, a soldier of Company H of the Massachusetts 1st Infantry, describing the house where Elmer Ellsworth was killed. Dinsmore writes both letters to "Dear Lizzie" from "Camp Banks / Georgetown Heights, D.C." Includes the two original transmittal covers.

In his first letter dated June 30, 1861, Dinsmore writes that he has just returned from furlough and describes a visit to the Marshall House where Elmer Ellsworth was killed while removing a large Confederate flag from its roof on May 24, 1861. Enclosing a relic, he writes: "Take good care of this little peice of wood I send in this letter as it is a peice of the flagstaff from which the late colonel Ellsworth took the secession flag when he was shot. I also had a peice of the stairs where he stood when he was shot but I have lost it somewhere the stairs of the Hotel where he was shot is all cut to pieces and carried away as relics as is also the flagstaff. There is some folks that would give 2 dollars for that peice that I send in this letter of such value is every thing connected with Ellsworth death considered..." A fragment of wood, about 1 3/4 inches in length was enclosed in the envelope along with the letter.

Dinsmore writes again on July 4 and describes the Marshall House, referencing the wood again: "...I was in the House where Ellsworth was shot. It was an awful looking house with a guard of soldiers round it and a sentry at the door to keep folks out. I got a pass from the provost Marshall so I had liberty to go all over it is all tore to peices inside the stairs where Ellsworth was shot is all cut away so is the floor and every thing around the stairway that could be taken as relics..."

Condition: With expected mail folds and light toning. Both covers, with minor loss of paper from being opened.

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