Raynor HCA 2014-04
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/1/2014
Two letters written by Francis Crocker of Langley, Fairfax County, Virginia to his son, John Crocker who would later become Colonel of the 93rd regiment of New York State Volunteers and was captured and imprisoned at Libby Prison and Salisbury Prison. These pre war letters are dated June 26th, 1858 and December 12th, 1858. In small part, Francis reports, ““There has been & is yet a great revival in this vicinity a large number have espoused the cause of their Savior... A large number of blacks have taken up the cross. Saml. Sharper is one of them. .. If the Democratic Party keep together they are sure to elect the next President....I think the northern states will soon get sick of their Nigger yelping & if they would take care of their half naked half starved miserable population & not grind them down to the lowest degradation & keep them so poor as not to have clothes fit to appear in any church once a year nor even try to get them there I think it would look more like real charity....I think the south will take better care of the blacks ...” The father, Francis Crocker remained loyal to the Union according to an article written by the NY Times, June 4, 1862. “The Union men who came with us are closely confined. They are mostly old men, with gray heads. The rebels regard them as traitors; but if ever there were patriots, these are such. They have lost property and liberty for resisting the rebellion. Nothing can exceed the severity with which they treat these Union men. One case will illustrate all: Hon. FRANCIS CROCKER, father of Col. CROCKER, Ninety-third New-York, who was a resident of Fairfax County, was taken from his farm, stripped of coat, vest, hat and boots, and made to travel in the rain to Manassas. He was tied under a tree, and left over night with no covering. Fever set in, no aid was given him, and he died. He was flung into a hole, and buried without even a wooden box for a coffin. Thus perished on old man of 70 years, whose only fault was being a Union man.”
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