Raynors 2012-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/27/2012
A great war-date Petersburg "Bread Riot" letter, 4pp. folio, written by a certain "C. I. Gillian", Petersburg, [Va.], March 31, 1863 to her son who was residing in Richmond, in small part: "…yesterday several soldiers came out…& put up a tent. One of them…belongs to Mr. Moffett's company…those that remained in town are going to encamp out here…some of the ladies on High St. made a great demonstration. They mustered about three hundred strong bearing a flag and some armed with a sword and some kind of fire arms. They march[ed] down as far as Grace Church. There they were met by the Mayor, some Police Officers and Mr. Gibson. One of the Officers went up and one lady threatened to shoot him but Mayor Towns advanced and asked them what they wanted…they answered something to eat…he told them…their wants…should all be supplied…after a short while Mr. Gibson and the Mayor succeeding in dispensing them…some of the merchants were terribly frightened and some closed their stores…nothing was said about it in the papers as the Yankees would get hold of it and think what I am afraid [to] be true. That we are almost starved out…". Folded letter with two five-cent Jeff Davis stamps cancelled by circular blue Petersburg, Va. cancel. Just days later the most famous of all "bread riots" occurred in Richmond on April 2, 1863 and one has to wonder whether Mrs. Gillian's letter to her son in Richmond had anything to do with helping promote that "riot"! VG.
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