July 14th, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/14/2011
Excellent content 4 pg letter, December 29, (1863), to Bryon March of the 104th New York Infantry, from his mother. Interestingly March would die only a few months later on February 29, 1864. The letter comes with the original transmittal envelope addressed to March in the hospital. On the reverse of the cover is a cancellation dated Alexandria, Virginia, February 14 (1864). The letter was lost for a period of time indicated by "Not Found" stamped on the front of the cover. It finally got to March only 15 days before he died! I will endeavor to write you a little this evening. Am uncertain that you will ever get this letter as you said in your last that you expected to go to the Regt. If so you will not get this. John is at home now and is going to enlist tomorrow evening. There will be a war meeting at the hall. Lieut. Bennett is going to address the audience and a great time is anticipated. Quite a number are a going to enlist from this place. There was an extra town meeting held last Saturday for the purpose of raising bounty for those that enlist. Three hundred dollars was voted for so that the town pays three hundred, the State one hundred besides the Government bounty. Quite a pile for those in need. I understand that twenty one men is the quota for this town. If all enlist that is expected to there will be no draft in Avoca this time. In your last letter to me you have been speculating as to who is to be President. You named a few who you thought ought to be the man. I guess you don't read the Democratic papers much or you would be better informed. Let me help you a little. In the first place the fence men met. I have forgotten where, and nominated McClellan for President. Some of the other Democrats you know. There are two or three different breeds of Democrats who have voted for Chief Justice Taney for President, and some other old crony for Vice [President]. I have no idea that those nominations will be put on course to run as the regular candidates for President, but are thrown out as feelers. Now Byron, the Republicans have made no nomination. They want to see how the war gets along. Permit me then to give you my belief as things now stand. There are but two that [I] would like to see on the course, or rather one of them. I don't care which, that is Old Abe, or Salmon P. Chase. They are the two ablest men we have and if Horace Greeley makes up his mind that one of those I mentioned should be President, they will be nominated and it is useless for others. You can talk of his little influence as much as you like. You know that Greeley is the strongest man. We have all your pretensions to the contrary. Notwithstanding, I don't see any use in jabbering about President. There are other things to be looked after. President making will come in its own time. Just now we have a Rebellion to suppress and traitors to execute. I will change the subject. It is an unpleasant one now. I don't like the way you manage. You should not write that you expect to go to the Regt. unless you go so there is no mistake in sending letters. I will put in a sheet of paper and a stamp so that you can answer at once. The girls all go to school this week. A.C. had a sore throat last week so that she could not go. Is some better now. Please write soon as I am anxious to hear from you often. A most insightful letter in that Justice Roger Taney was also considered a Presidential hopeful in 1864, and that Editor Horace Greeley wielded so much political clout.. Fine.
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