Raynor HCA 2014-04
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/1/2014
A rare group of nine (9) war-date Union paymaster letters, totaling nearly 30 pages, written by Paymaster's Clerk, George W. Fernald, formerly of the 82nd New York Volunteers who was wounded in the chest at Gettysburg. After recovering somewhat from his grievous wound, he was declared unfit for active duty by his surgeon and mandated to join the VRC, but he refused and was assigned to the paymaster's Department in Baltimore. He provides us here with a seldom seen look into life at Baltimore during Jubal Early's raid on Washington, D. C. and of his travels to pay Sheridan's Army of the Shenandoah during his invasion of the Valley in late 1864. The letters, read, in small part: "…[Georgetown, D. C., Oct. 19, 63]…I have been trying to get detached from the regiment and get a berth…in the Commissary department…I fear that I wont succeed as they…have more clerks…than they need and I have no political friends to work for me…if I do not get this berth by Friday I shall return to Baltimore and report to my regiment…I think that my wound wont trouble me…the doctor says he don't think it will hurt me unless I get cold in it…we heard some heavy cannonading…from the direction of Manassas Junction…there has been another battle going on there…[Baltimore, Nov. 8]…I have [been] examined by the surgeon in charge of McKims Hospital & been pronounced unfair for active service, but they will not give me my discharge. They wanted me to go into the Invalid Corps…I would not do that so I have been detailed & attached to the Pay dept under Major Elliott…there is a rumor hear that Fort Sumter is ours…also been a fight with Lee's & Mead's armies. Mead has come out best…[Pay Department stationery, Baltimore, Dec. 19]…I hope this will find you…[in] good health as it leaves me the same except the soreness of my wound…we had a large fire here…it destroyed two large houses at the foot of Ann Street on the Point…we have captured the Chespeake again but most of the Pirates escaped…I hope they will hang those they have caught for it was cold bloodied murder in shooting the engineer of the steamer…[Pay Department stationery, Baltimore, Dec. 30]…the major and Mr. Snow, his book keeper, both have gone home so I had to remain to take care of the office…there is a great many cases of small pox here…three persons died…in our neighborhood…there was thirty died in one week…the people are getting afraid of it…[Pay Department stationery, Baltimore, March 19, 64]…since my wound has healed…I think I could render my country more assistance in the field than anywhere else…I am not idle here for we are very busy…in paying off the Veterans. We have been out paying off some troops today…I went to the theater…to see Mrs. Bowers…she played Leah the jewish maiden…[Baltimore, July 18]…last week…the Rebels were prowling all about us…we were besieged for a couple of days for the Rebels had cut the Rail Roads & telegraph wires which isolated us…we are now in communication with the rest of the world…I was one of Elliott's scouts to watch the enemy's movements. I traveled a great deal of [the] country following them up & retreating from them as circumstances permitted. I was in the saddle from Sunday morning until Wednesday night except when I stopped to rest or feed my horse…my wound [is] quite sore which was caused by the jolting of the horse. The Rebels have all left Maryland again. They stole a great many horse & cattle from the farmers…it was nothing more than a thieving raid, but the people of Baltimore were very much frightened. All the quarter masters's stores & medical stores were sent away…also our monies & papers…the stores & papers [were sent] away from here…because there were no troops here to defend the city. It had to be defended by the citizens & 100 days troops…[Pay Department stationery, Baltimore, Aug. 3]…I would have liked to have seen those fires in New York. They must have been a grand sight. There is something very strange about so many fires occurring of late…it must be some emissaries of the Rebels who set so many buildings & vessels on fire. We had quite a large fire here last night…near the Philadelphia Depot. It did not burn very long…it burned a great deal of the main building…[Pay Department stationery, Baltimore, Aug. 18]…we have been out with Sheridan's army paying off the troops…Sheridan's army crossed the Potomac river in two places. One column forded the river & the other crossed on a pontoon bridge & as soon as a brigade would cross…their band would strike up…some National air…with the bands playing & the bayonets glistening in the sun it was a grand sight…I could see the country for twenty miles around with a glass from the signal station on Maryland Heights. We followed the army as far as Kelley's Ford…we borrows the soldiers cups to make our coffee…I have a very strong mind to enlist again for I think my country still needs me…I shall se the doctor & see what he says about my wound…we [are] going out…to Mount Airy to pay off the 11th Maryland Regt. They are 100 days men…[Pay Department stationery, Baltimore, Aug. 28]…the major, myself & several others have…hired two yatchs & have [had] a race to see who would pay for the crab supper. The boat I was in aways came out the winner…the name of our boat was the Little John…[the] Little Dick….would have beaten us…if she had not run aground…were to Maryland Institute…to see Morris Verreck the flying trapeze. He goes the length of the institute in three jumps on strings which are attached to the celling…is as great a feat as Blondin's…to cross the Niagara falls on the rope… if he [Verreck] should fall he would break his neck…the Rebels are reported advancing on Maryland & Pa. again…". Several of the original stamped transmittal covers are included. Overall VG to near fine.
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