Raynors 2012-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/27/2012
A very rare war-date Accotink Home Guard and Restored Virginia government delegate's 1864 diary written by local magistrate Ebenezer E. Mason of Fairfax County, Virginia. Mason served as delegate to the Second Wheeling Convention in 1863; was the Senate's sergeant of arms for the same year; joined the Accontink Home Guards in 1864 and then served as delegate to the Restored Virginia Government convention in 1864 where the loyal men of Northern Virginia adopted a new Constitution that abolishing slavery, recognized West Virginia as a loyal state and required paper ballot voting for state representatives. This constitution represented the northern counties of Virginia until the end of the war and actually became Virginia's only recognized constitution after the fall of Richmond and remained in effect until July 1869. Mason's diary is a standard leather bound pocket size edition with three dates per page and covers his experiences from January through August 1864. Mason also served in the Accotink Home Guards which was a company of local men who remained loyal to the Federal Government. They spent their time patrolling the roads, protecting the telegraph lines, and chasing Rebel guerrillas fighters. His diary reads, in part: "…[Jan. 2]…I issued a warrant against Wm. Holland…for striking John Holland's wife…[Jan. 6]…resumed my duties in the State senate [sergeant at arms] went to the public meeting…[Jan. 11]…attended a Union meeting in the evening…[Jan. 12]…attended the district convention every thing passed off pleasantly…[Jan. 13]…resumed my duties in the senate…pent the evening with the Lieut. Gov…[Jan. 18]…attended the Fairfax County Court…went to the Union League…[Jan. 19]…went to see the panorama of the rebellion…[Jan. 20]…senate met at 12 o'clock. In the evening attended a lecture by a colored man…[Jan. 21]…election held to elect delegates to the constitutional convention…[Jan. 28]…the explosion of a steam tug took place near Fort Washington…[Jan. 29]…wrote an article for the state journal on the election of U. S. Senators [tucked in the back of the diary is an original clipping of this very article removed from an 1865 newspaper]…[Feb. 3]…election for U. S. Senator did not come off owing to the absence of two Senators…[Feb. 8]…went back to Alexandria, legislature adjourned sine die…[Feb. 9]…went back to Georgetown, spent part of the day in Congress…[Feb. 11]…went to the review of the brigade…[Feb. 12]…spent the evening with some of the members of the convention…[Feb. 17]…home guards elected officers in the evening…[Feb. 20]…brought some hinges for the Home Guards…[Feb. 25]…attend a political meeting…[Feb. 28]…a false alarm raised in regard to guerrillas…[Feb. 29]…went on a scout in the night…[Mar. 1]…caught two rebel soldiers. Got home at noon…[Mar. 24]…heard of the capture of Hannegan…[April 11]…went to Alexandria attended the confiscation sales…[April 15]…went to the west end held a preliminary meeting in regard to holding a county convention…[April 23]…went out with the cavalry in the night…[April 24]…went on a scout two of the cavalry wounded and two or three of the rebus. Got two horses…[May 2]…went to Alexandria, attended a nominating convention at west end…[June 4]…went to the hospitals…[June 6]…Alliston's horse stolen, went on a scout…[June 18]…home guard met and chose officers…[July 6]…visited Sough Hospital, guerrillas made a raid into Chalkly's, stole 4 horses which were afterwards recaptured…[July 13]…went to Washington, great excitement on account of rebel invasion of Maryland…[July 15]…rebel raid in the neighborhood. They got 2 horses from Lewis Quander's. One colored man shot. Two rebels shot…[July 30]…rebel raid in the Border's neighborhood…[Aug. 20]…elected officers in the evening…". Also included is a period newspaper clipping of Mason's article which he wrote for the State Journal which makes an eloquent defense for adopting a new constitution and several war-date receipts and clippings. Near fine.
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