July 14th, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/14/2011
War-date Union officer’s Autograph Letter Signed by Lt. Colonel Henry C. Merwin, 2nd & 27th Connecticut Infantry, KIA at Gettysburg, 12pp. octavo, Oak Hill, Fairfax County, Virginia, July 18, 1861, with great content, it reads in part: “...Since I last wrote I have been surrounded by over one hundred of the enemy....Yesterday morning (friday) our company, Capt. Gores and Capt Chapmans with fifty cavalry under Col. Keese, who is now in command of the army of the brigade, took us out reconoiniting and of course we were in advance and when we got out about four miles we were sent out as skirmishers about two to three hundred yards in advance of the main body and our line reached out I should say stretched about half to 3/4 of a miles so we had quite a sweep...within a few miles of Fairfax. We entered a very thick woods, after we led the way I was in command of the right group and the aide de camp was with us. I had got quite a way into the woods. We captured two secessionists. They had Sharps Rifles and one had also a six inch Whitney pistol. They were first seen by my men. They ordered them to Halt, and called for us. We rushed up and put a guard around them and after we took their arms, I sent a man to the main body for a squad to take them. I delivered them to Capt. Chapman. They were taken away and just in a minute or two, our Major Colburn was calling to find where we were...I told the A de Camp we had better try to find the road. We started, we had not gone far when we saw a house a little way off...We worked along through the woods and when within about one hundred feet of the house. I was in advance. I saw from twelve to fifteen men going towards the House. As soon as I saw them I dropped to the ground and the rest did as I did. After they had got some we got up and went back and before we had gone a great way we heard chopping in the woods...We heard men advancing. We all lay low and there were a company of over thirty men, with their muskets, marched down on the other side in close order within twelve feet of me and as soon as they had got any distance, we got up and crept towards the edge of the woods...By the middle of the afternoon we reached a house. We went to it and told the man we thought he was on our side. We told him we were the secession pickets and were out to see if we could see or hear anything of the Black Abolitionists. He said we were just the ones he wanted to see, that there were some of their pickets not far from his house, so we must be careful. He then called out his son who is about thirty....Then the A de Camp went to asking about the Northern troops and once in a while would find something about the others and in this way we got the names of quite a number of secessionists and some Union men. Finally the old man told us that the girls that got Capt. [Abram G.] Kellogg [2nd Connecticut Infantry POW 6/22/61 Falls Church, Virginia] taken were in the house. We asked to see them. We told him we would like to have the pleasure of complimenting them. They came out on the stoop and we were introduced to them. They had a place to hide. It was a place under the stairs. A piece of floor took up. After we had got all the information we wanted, the A de Camp told them that we must be going and that he would like to see all the family to bid them goodbye. They all came out on the stoop & then he stepped up and drew his sword and in the name of U.S. took them prisoners. We asked the two Scott girls put on their things and took them and the young man to camp...I gave the girls and man up to General T[yler]....At 1/2 past eight we went to see General Tyler. He paid us quite a compliment and was very kind to us...” Near fine condition.
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