Raynor HCA 2014-01
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/30/2014
A great war-date Union officer's letter, 4pp. 4to., written by Captain David H. Ayers, Co. I, 5th New Jersey Vols., "Fort Crawford, near Petersburg, Va., Sept. 11, 1864", in part: "…in the midst of the almost musical cry for eace and the consequent enthusiasm in the Democratic (or Copperhead) ranks in the nomination of McClellan. I was afraid you too might have been carried away with the delusion that he could best settle our National difficulties, but I am pleasantly disappointed…I have…conversed with several rebel officers…upon our picket lines and…they unanimously…sustain Jeff Davis in his [?] of Independence…and assert that an armistice would be abortive unless it resulted in the recognition of the Southern Confederacy…[this] is out of the question and should not be thought of by the North…this war can never be ended by negotiation…they would not take this…stand…were it not for the hopes…of recognition through the peace party of the North. I am a volunteer and…naturally desire peace…but one way in which peace can be surely and speedily obtained…is by fighting for it. An honorable and lasting peace cannot be obtained in any other way…recruits are arriving now…we recd. 133 last Thursday…quite a number of the men had selected cavalry regiments and batteries but the government [?] to itself the privilege of putting substitutes and drafted men in the branch in who they are most needed…Grant holds tight to the Weldon R. R. and I don't believe he intends to let the Rebs evacuate Virginia if they want to…you will hear of him on the Danville R. R. We have a railroad nearly completed from City point to the extreme left of our army at Ream's Station…Grant intends to end the war here…". Near fine.
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.