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Civil War Archive of Leonard B. Blinn, 100th Ohio Infantry. ...
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Sold on Sep 21, 2023 for:
$843.75
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Description
Civil War Archive of Leonard B. Blinn, 100th Ohio Infantry. An archive consisting of Blinn's inscribed Bible dated April 1861, one postwar letter dated August 23, 1922, one original transmittal cover, two undated cartes de visites, three photographs, and two items from the tenth annual reunion of the 100th Ohio Infantry. Documents are written in pencil and ink and measure, on average, 7.25" x 8.5".Leonard B. Blinn enlisted on April 25, 1861 and was commissioned into Company C of the 21st Ohio Infantry as Second Lieutenant. He mustered out on August 12, 1861. One month later, he was commissioned into Company A of the 100th Ohio Infantry with the same rank. He was promoted to captain on May 13, 1863 and resigned on March 3, 1865.
The items featured in this lot reference Blinn's second posting with the 100th Ohio Infantry. Organized from July to September 1862, the regiment fought in several major campaigns. A year into their service, the 100th Ohio surrendered to Confederate forces at the Battle of Limestone Station on September 8, 1863 and were taken prisoner for several months. After their eventual exchange, soldiers participated in the Atlanta Campaign and subsequent siege on the city, the Battle of Nashville, and the surrender of Johnston's army.
In a letter written on August 23, 1922, Blinn remembers his time as a prisoner-of-war at Libby Prison. He writes, in part, "You mention about the last time you spoke to me after we were captured Sept 8th, 1863 (59 years ago) that you asked me if I thought we would be paroled when we reached Lynchburg. That I replied that you might be but that I did not expect it. Well George it turned out that I was about right. As you say you was paroled after six months. I was never paroled or exchanged. I was in prison one year and four months altogether. I succeeded in making my escape from their prisons three times but I was recaptured by the dogs and men on my first two times that I got away. But on the third time, I escape from their prison at Columbia, South Carolina Nov 26th, 1864 and got into our lines Dec 27, 1864 at Sweetwater...about 40 miles from Knoxville. Out 32 nights & traveled about 400 miles twas a hard trip."
During his imprisonment, Blinn was taken to Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia. Located in an old tobacco factory outside of Richmond, Libby Prison housed Union soldiers throughout the entirety of the war. Prisoners dubbed the facility the "Inferno of the slave Confederacy" and Union inmates faced chronic starvation, unsanitary living conditions, and harsh physical punishment. In the letter here, Blinn mentions his transfer to Columbia Prison. Officially known as Camp Sorghum due to the high quantities of sorghum syrup that made up the prisoners' rations, the camp functioned as a makeshift prison for the last six months of the war.
In addition to Blinn's letter, this lot also includes the soldier's Bible. An inscription on the front page reads, "Presented to L.B. Blinn by his wife Carrie M. Blinn." Pencil notations below, likely made by his wife, read, "When he enlisted in the three months service, April 1861, and it was returned to me in September 1863 after he was taken 'Prisoner of War.'"
This collection also features two cartes de visites, three photographs, an armband, and a ribbon from the tenth annual reunion of the 100th Ohio Infantry.
Condition: Letter is creased along folds and toned with minor holes at the center, slightly affecting the text. Bible is leather-bound with minor scuffing to flaps and spine. The text block is slightly shaken. Reunion ribbon and armband exhibit minor staining, creasing, and toning.
Auction Info
2023 September 21 Historical Manuscripts Signature® Auction #6272 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
September, 2023
21st
Thursday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 2
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
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