Soldier's Letters & Civil War Paper

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This is a very nice non-dug Civil War match safe with a patriotic eagle and Union shield engraved in both sides.  The match safe is just over 2 1/2 inches tall and is 1 3/8 inches wide.  It has a striker on the bottom. It appears to have been silver or nickle plated.  The engraving is a little worn on one side, but overall it is in very good condition.  This was recently acquired in the Shenandoah Valley.

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Item Number -R201

 An incredible seven page letter written by Sergeant Major William Phillips from winter camp at Portsmouth, Virginia in December of 1863. Phillips is clearly well-educated and discusses the vices faced by soldiers in great detail and gives various eloquent statements about the war and its impact.  The letter is written on two separate folded 8vo sheets (8 1/8 x 5 1/4 inches) and is in excellent condition.  I have transcribed most of the letter - the text is below:

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 News in our department are rather scarce at present for we are all in winter quarters with no prospect of a move until next spring, but I am not in any hurry to move I assure you for we have been on the move all the time until now and as we are on our last nine months I am satisfied to remain quiet .  We have done our part I think as we have been in seven engagements and skirmishes innumerable our Regt has been reduced to one fourth our original number and I think we have lost our share.  Government is using every exertion in its power to induce the men to reenlist and many will embrace the opportunity and receive the large bounty offered but as far as I am concerned I know there is not enough money in the U.S. to catch me again.  Not because I do not think the cause is good or just but when I see the wrong and injustice that is continuously practiced I am fairly disgusted.  The most of our officers and men that I should be ashamed to associate with at home and at best but drunken sots and with such men as these at the head is it a wonder any one gets disgusted?

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I have often trembled when I have thought of the temptation to which so many of our young men are exposed and with how little chance of resistance.  Surrounded with vice and crime exposed to insult and injury is it any wonder that the young and inexperienced should fall?  Had I a son old enough to come out here I would sooner see him laid in his coffin.  I came out with firm principles and a determination that I would not go home worse than I came and with a clear conscience .  I can say this for I have kept my word but I have struggled hard for I am continuously surrounded with oaths, drunkenness, and every sin ever thought of still I have been true to myself and my friends.  I have seen boys (for they were nothing but boys) who even yet the mothers kiss was dry upon the cheek had so far forgot a mothers prayers and fathers (?) as to be picked up out of the street intoxicated and they were not all to blame for those older and more experienced laughed them to do it.

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These young men will come home some day and will take the place of the passing generation  they will be citizens and rulers.  But who is to blame? Here they are far from home and home associations cut loose from all restraint that a kind mother or dear sister would throw around them and left to their own devices and the pernicious influence of evil men.  There is a most fearful responsibility  somewhere and woe to the one on whose head it shall fall. The sacrifice of life has been incalculable but the sacrifice os principle has been more.  O for peace once more when we can all once more return to our quiet homes.  Great Heaven how long shall we yet be called upon to act these parts.  How long will it be before this cloud of grief that weighs down the soul and keeps the mind in this dread uncertainty be cleared away.  When will cease this warring of brother against brother and how long yet the time before the glorious sun of liberty once more shall illuminate these (?) hills never again to suffer eclipse.  But I must stay for I know I must I must be tiresome and I fear you will not know patience to read this letter all through.  But when I get to thinking of all the wrongs that this unnatural war has brought upon us I hardly know what to say.  

The letter is in excellent condition!  Phillips was writing to Mrs Silas Wood (perhaps his Mother-in-Law?) whose sons were serving in the 1st Rhode island Light Artillery.  Phillips was mustered into company C of the regiment on October 30th, 1861 and was promoted to acting Sergeant Major on March 15, 1863.  He mustered out of the regiment on October 15th, 1864.  The 4th Rhode Island Infantry saw some of its heaviest fighting at Antietam where it was heavily engaged near Burnside Bridge losing 25 killed and 75 wounded.  This letter may be seen in case 63 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

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Item Number - DOC012

SOLD!

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Item Number - DOC011

SALE PENDING

A great 2 1/2 page letter written by Albert S. Wood, a private in Battery F, from the trenches near Chaffin's Farm during the Siege of Petersburg. The letter, which is on 16mo paper (6 3/8 x 4 1/8 sheets) is dated November 13th, 1864.  The original envelope is present.  Wood gives his location as "Near Chapin's Farm".  The letter is addressed to his mother - Wood writes as follows:

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"I will now try to answer your kind and welcome letter which I got night before last.  I was glad to hear from you once more.  My health is good.  We have moved to the front again and are almost within stones throw of the rebel works but they keep very quiet as they don’t like our shot and shell.  Yesterday they formed in three lines of battle in our front to charge our works but their hearts failed them and they gave it up for a bad job.  Lucky for them.  I suppose you have seen Uncle Tom before this time.  You say Wilber says he had rather be in the army than to be there at work in the shop.  don’t you believe that.  he will never enlist again.  You think the best place for my money is in the savings bank but if you have got a good place to keep it you had better have where you can use it when you need it for perhaps you may need some money once in a while and I don’t want you to lack for anything while I can help you.  If you have not sent my things you need not send the pants.  I believe I wrote for them.  You say you think it would be cheeper for me to buy my socks ready made and I will do so.  I don’t think of anything more.  Accept my love one and all.  Your son, Albert S. Wood."

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 The letter is in excellent condition!  Wood was mustered into the regiment on March 24th, 1862 and was promoted to bugler on October 29th, 1864 - just before this letter was written.  He mustered out of the regiment on June 27th, 1865.

This letter may be seen in case 63 at the Antique Center of Gettysburg.

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Item Number - DOC010

SALE PENDING

Daniel Elias Heydon was 18 when he enlisted in Company E of the 149th New York in Pompey, New York.  He was mustered into service with the rest of the regiment on September 18th, 1862.  The records indicate that he enlisted as a sergeant but also indicate that he was "promoted to private" in April of 1863.  The regiment was attached to the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division of the XII Corps and saw heavy action at Chancellorsville where it lost 15 killed, 68 wounded and 103 missing.  The regiment would also play a part in the defense of Culp's Hill at Gettysburg, but since Heydon's July 12th letter indicates that he just arrived at the hospital, it seems likely that he did not participate in this fight.

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  The July 12th letter, which is 4 pages long (8vo), describes, in detail, the U.S. general hospital at Albany.  Heydon writes, "I arrived here in Albany on Thursday and said [sic] at the Stanwix Hall Hotel and the next forenoon reported to Maj. Wallace to ordered me to report to the Hospital for examination.  I was examined by Dr. Cogswell and he found me as they have all told me but what disposition is to be made of me but when I find out I will let you know.  These are splendid quarters here.  we are west of the city about a mile and a half and near us is the county poor house hospital, the penitentiary, the insane asylum, and the large brick barracks.  The Hospital is in charge of a lady and I tell you she is a nice lady she keeps everything in the best of order.  Our building is as much as 200 feet long and only 1 story high.  It is painted inside and our ward is about in the centre we have good clean beds on iron bedsteds with sheets and all the beds are on each side with an alley in the middle  and we have 31 or 32 beds with a small stand at each and there is a table with flowers fresh every day as well as a large glass case of roots & grasses.  We have first rate victuals and that what is good we have had currants, raspberries, pork & beans, nice tea & coffee, ham potatoes etc.  I think that is good for soldiers good ice water to drink and good clean water to wash bodies they are furnished good white shirts to wear which are changed every week and there is a nice melodeon in one of the wards.  There are soldiers from every regiment almost.  Infantry, cavalry, artillery, sharpshooters and every other branch of service and they are the most quiet and orderly set I ever saw.  There is no low noise nor anything out of the way and they all respect the lady in charge who is very quiet but is around and very attentive to all.  last night I drew me a pair of light blue pants and shall lay my others aside..."  He closes the letter noting that he will send money home and with a note requesting "I wish if you have had a list of the killed & wounded & missing of the 149th Regt. you would send it to me."

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The letter, which is written in pen except for the note about casualties, which is in pencil, is very lightly browned, but otherwise is in excellent condition.  Heydon would eventually rejoin his regiment and would muster out with them in Missouri in 1865 (although the records note that he was sick in a hospital in Missouri at the time).  I have other letters and paper items from Heydon that I will be listing soon.  This is the best letter in regards to a description of the hospital however! (The bullets in the photograph are not included with the letter - I just used them to hold down the corners for the photograph!)

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Item Number - DOC001

SOLD!

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Heart Design Harness or Blanket Buckle

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This brass harness or blanket buckle, which still has the remains of the silver gilt that once covered it, has the heart design which, although meant for civilian use, is typically associated with Confederate use.  The buckle measures 2 1/8 x 1 15/16 inches.  The original brass belt loop wire is missing and was replaced with an iron wire at some later date.  It was acquired in Springfield, Missouri. 

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Item Number R020

Price - $25.00