LOT #47106 |
Sold on Feb 26, 2026 for: Sign-in
or Join (free & quick)
Civil War Soldier's Letters (2) by Hamilton Ballentine of the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry with Petersburg and Lincoln Assassinati...
Click the image to load the highest resolution version.
Sold on Feb 26, 2026 for:
$750.00
Bid Source: HA.com/Live bidder
Get one of these:
Explore Available Items
Description
Civil War Soldier's Letters (2) by Hamilton Ballentine of the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry with Petersburg and Lincoln Assassination Content. Two letters totaling eight pages on two bifolia, each 5 x 8 inches, from Hamilton Ballentine to his brother, William. Written from the field near Petersburg, these letters capture Ballentine's firsthand impressions of the final days of the war and his profound grief following Abraham Lincoln's assassination.In his first letter, dated March 28, 1865, Ballentine describes the arrival of General Sheridan's cavalry at Petersburg and the welcome they received from the Army of the Potomac. He also makes mention of one of Lincoln's final visits to the front, as the President reviewed troops near the James River in the days before his death:
"We Arived at this Place last Night Whil Marching Around the Armey We Ware greeted By Both general officers and Men all Wanting to See Sheridans Raiders you Would think We Ware Angels or Som thing grait I Saw officers offering aney Money for a Saber from aney one of Sheridans Raiders the all Say that it is all up With the Rebes Sins We arrived...I must let you [know] that father Abraham and grant and Sheridan Came up on a Boat to See us Crosing the Pontoons on the James..."
The second letter, dated April 23, 1865, written just nine days after Lincoln's death, conveys Ballentine's anguish at the news:
"...With the Dredfol News of the assassineshen of our Dear Beloved President I feel very Sad and lonley in fact I Have Never felt So in My life Befor...on our Way from the victorous Batel field of the Apomatick With our Harts light With gay and Hapiness and a Bright Hope of Spedy Peace on the Morning of the 10 lak a slash of lightenen the Wires Brought that Dreadfol News that Changed all Harts from joy to Sorow for My Part I Could Not Belive it...I Never Culd Belive that I Could feel So Sory for any Deth I Culd Not Refrain from Crying as I Red the Dreadfol accounts of it I Could Not Belive that god Would have Such a good and Holey Man as I Belive Ebreham Lincoln Was to Be Slain By such a Wicked Cowardly Scoundrel..."
Laid into the April 23 letter is a contemporary newspaper clipping of the poem "The Lost Chief," honoring Lincoln's memory.
Condition: Each letter lightly toned with smoothed folds and a few light stains; small pencil annotations at top left. March 28 letter with minor ink smudging throughout and a single small separation at the integral fold, just touching text.
Auction Info
2026 February 26 Historical Manuscripts & Texana Signature® Auction #6328 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
February, 2026
26th
Thursday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 2
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 186
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
25% of the successful bid per lot.
Shipping, Taxes, Terms and Bidding
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms
Important information concerning Sales Tax and Resale Certificates. Learn More
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms