LOT #47138 |
Sold on Feb 26, 2026 for: Not Sold
Civil War Letter Group by Soldiers Serving in New York Regiments....
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Description
Civil War Letter Group by Soldiers Serving in New York Regiments. Six Civil War-era letters written by New York soldiers, together with related ephemera, offering firsthand accounts of camp life, combat, and encounters with President Abraham Lincoln. The group includes three letters from members of the 147th New York Infantry, one letter from William D. Milliken of the 4th New York Heavy Artillery, one letter from Andrew M. Lee of the 2nd New York Heavy Artillery, and one partial letter from an unidentified soldier. Includes content about the Siege of Petersburg and the Battle of Appomattox Court House.The earliest letter, dated November 23, 1862, is written on patriotic illustrated stationery depicting the U.S. Capitol, with a printed address line reading, "Co. D, Capt. A. Hulett, 147th Reg. N.Y.S. Vols, Col. Warner." The writer, who signs simply "Frank," describes touring the capital, including a visit to the Smithsonian, and regretfully notes missing a visit from President Lincoln due to illness:
"The President did call on the Regt. when they were on dress parade but I was too unwell to go out so did not have the pleasure of seeing the Gentleman...all the boys thought that he was the smartest looking man they ever saw."
A second Washington-related letter, dated January 18, 1863, is written in dense cross-hatched script by William D. Milliken, then serving with the 4th New York Heavy Artillery (and later with the 22nd U.S. Colored Troops). Milliken recounts his personal introduction to President Lincoln:
"We went to call on the 'President' I had the honor of an introduction & also of shaking the old rail splitter's hand. Mrs. Lincoln is quite a plain looking Lady. I think the East room the finest room I ever saw...We staid at the Presidents about half an hour, then went to the Pattent Office..."
An account of the Battle of Bristoe station appears in a letter by William C. Rose of the 147th New York Infantry. Writing from "Camp near Bristoe Station" on November 1, 1863, Rose recalls the events of the battle:
"We got tired of waiting for the rebs to attack us & we was orderd to advance on them & they kept falling back till night...in the night the rebs made a dash on our pickets & took a lot of them prisnors & drove us back to the main bodey so we was all drawed up in line of battal & waiting til morning...we followed them to thorofare gap & we couldn't go eny further for the want of rations the rebs tore the rail road all up & it will take a month to fix it..."
Another letter from an unidentified soldier of the 147th, written circa 1864, finds him in the trenches being actively shelled by the Confederate forces:
"Just now a bullet hit a pile of dirt & threw it on us well that is nothing day before yesterday a shell struck the bank right in front of us & covered us finely, but it did not come through or explode. It was a bank which the Rebs put a year or two ago for the purpose..."
In his letter of October 1864, Andrew M. Lee of the New York 2nd Heavy Artillery writes from Camp Patterson, discussing camp life and a surprise visit from the 147th:
"The 4th Oswego Regt [147th NY] arrived here last Tuesday and came up to our camp to see the boys & staid all night with us. The boys were all glad to see them...Our Granly Boys looked Bully in fact it was not a bad looking Regt..."
Also included is an interesting four-page partial letter written circa June 1861, describing early-war operations and the Battle of Fairfax Court House:
"I suppose you saw an account of the Fairfax Farmers assisting our officers at Fairfax Court House the other day...Poor Gen Stoughton, he should have posterior spanked by his uncle Able if he ever gets back from Richmond. Id like to see the Reb that could catch an officer of this brigade napping...I see by the Washington Chronical of this morning that Great Expectations are still alive in the reagen round about Vicksburg. But not much from the Army of the Potomac, Heaven grant they may forget us for a spell, and we may do something, for Hooker is at work you may rest assured, and has raised this army from an almost hopeless dependency..."
Accompanying the letters are a February 25, 1861 letter from Tafton, Pennsylvania, mentioning Lincoln's election; a printed song advertisement for "Doctor Stillman's Pills," composed and sung by "Old Hunk," a private in the 147th New York; and a small 1864 advertising booklet for "Dr. Atherton's Wild Cherry Syrup."
Condition: Generally good, with expected toning and mailing folds. Light, scattered staining throughout. Rough edges to undated letter written circa 1864, just touching text. Moderate foxing to printed advertisements.
Auction Info
2026 February 26 Historical Manuscripts & Texana Signature® Auction #6328 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
February, 2026
26th
Thursday
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