Raynor HCA 2014-04
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/1/2014
The following is the balance of the Mix/Knapp family Civil War period correspondence. These letters, and those appearing elsewhere in this catalog originated from the Civil War era correspondence written by, and collected by, Eva Knapp of Warsaw, New York and closely follow the military careers of her cousins Lawrence "Wesley" Mix 12th U. S. Infantry and his brother William "Henry" Mix 2nd N. H. V. and 19th USCT. All the lots offered here put the pieces of a most interesting puzzle together and we encourage you, the reader, to view all lots to gain a better perceptive as to the the relationship Eva nurtured with her soldier cousins. The first series of letter are all written to Henry who goes from a lowly private in the 2nd New hampshire to 1st lieutenant of the 19th United State Colored Troops. Included here are ten (10) home front letter totaling 35pp. 8vo., dated between late 1861 and early 1864. They read, in small part: "…[Eva, Nov. 24, 61]…Byron Stearns had enlisted [in the 9th New York Cavalry]…he is in Albany…Mr. & Mrs. Stearns both feel bad about Byron going…aunt Sarah…has been at your father's and says he very anxious about you and don't want Wesley to enlist…[Eva…Feb. 2, 62]… Kate is writing to Ben Strong (her accepted lover). He is orderly sergeant in her father's company. Her father…is Capt. of Company A 9th New York Cavalry. They are in Ca,p Fenton about two miles from Washington…[Eva, Sept. 11, 62]…Wesley [Lawrence Wesley Mix, 2nd N. H. WIA Gaines Mills] is still in Annapolis…he is getting better and expects to go to his Regt soon…[mother, Sept. 11]…words cannot express the heart felt gratitude I feel…for the preservation of your precious life…we knew by the papers you were in the fight [Second Bull Run]. I am so thankful you are only a prisoner [listed as MIA]…you may get exchanged. Be careful of your health…I felt safe about dear Wesley because he is still in hospital…do you know anything about Alvin or Anson Worden. Poor boys I fear they are killed. God keep them from harm…[Eva, Sept. 17, 62]…Wesley…said his wound had entirely healed and he expected to join his erg in a few days…if you weren't a prisoner I should write you a lecture on answering questions…I cannot see how it is that you are a prisoner and so far away from the Rebels…[Eva, Jan. 30, 64]…I do not think I should like to teach either colored or white people in Co. I…[Henry is now lieutenant of Co. I, 19th USCT]….I never thought teaching pleasant…[Horace, Portsmouth, Jan. 31, 64]…I did not know that Henry had re-inlisted…Brave Henry always brave. He had pledged himself to three years more of toil, privation and danger…I truly wish I might be therein body…but my health and the care of my widow mother forbids, but he shall have my heartiest wishes for his welfare…[R. M. Knapp, Feb. 2, 64]…I am thankful you are still spared…I cannot half enjoy anything…thinking of the awful state of our beloved country is in, of the poor soldiers away from the home circles…those awful rebel shells I very much fear the will kill some of those noble soldiers…I hope you will come home in the spring & peace be restored to our districted country…[mother, Feb. 4, 1864]…you will come home before many weeks will you not dear. Tell me how you are…be careful of your health…R. M. Knapp, but Winter 1862]…I remember…you are in Hooker's division. How I should like to look into your tent and see you…it looks more encouraging of late. Our hopes are in our noble fleet. I hope they will take Charleston…[Kate Knapp, Cuba, N. Y., March 24, 1864]…Eva have your thoughts been given to your new soldier friend that you found to be such a nuisance at our house…he did not reach home the day you left him on account of the rain. He was kindly cared for by friends near the depot…is now improving in health…& says 'Eva carries sunshine wherever she goes. May God bless her'…the brother that was at Elmira is now in Washington…yesterday I had the pleasure of witnessing a soldier married. He was quite young, 22…he leaves his bride very soon for his Reg., the 5th N. Y. Cavalry…". The second series of letter all deal with the erroneous reporting of Henry's death during the battle of the Crater, Virginia on July 30, 1864. He led the men into the huge hole blown into the earth by Federal miners and fortunately for him was only captured. For his efforts he remained a POW for over six months. Included here are six (6) home front letter totaling 18pp. 8vo., dated between August 1864 and January 1865. They read, in small part: "…[Horace, Portsmouth, Aug. 14, 64]…how can I offer you consolation in your great sorrow…noble Henry we have all lost him. I regarded him as a brother knowing him to be generous, brave and kind…Oh! this cruel war. It has robbed me of most my friends. Many of them now sleep to awake only at the resurrection…many weep for loved ones, fathers, brothers, sons who have died in the noble cause of rescuing our dear land from traitorous hands. They…have given their all for their country and their God…will not their glorious death atone for a lifetime of errors…we know that Henry was atria Christian…I saw dear Susie…she bears her deep affliction with Christian fortitude…to her it is a great loss…to you and your people my sympathies go out fully and freely…[Mt. Morris, Aug. 10, 64]…Henry Mix…has been called to lay down his precious young life upon the blood stained altar of our suffering country…with God's help I might raise your sorrowful eyes above these earthly scenes of bloodshed and carnage to where Lieut. Mix, crowned with glory far exceeding the Stars and Stripes, is marching now without his knapsack, by the side of angel brothers…he has…received Heavenly orders from the blessed General who commands above…[Catherine Worden, Deerfield, Sept. 6, 64]…we have had the happiness of seeing our soldier boy after on absence of 2 years and 7 months. Oh it was a happy meeting but he had [to] leave so soon…I am thankful that one is spared so long and say the Lord's will be done…we received a letter…informing us that Henry Mix is no more. Another of our family is sacrificed for his country. Oh when will this war and bloodshed come to a termination and peace prevail. There is a great excitement now concerning the draft, some leaving constantly for the army or to keep from going into the army…[Corp. Alvin B. Worden, Co. I., 16th Michigan, WIA Malvern Hill, Va., 7/01/62 & Wilderness, 5/06/64, Satterlee Hospital, Philadelphia., Sept. 4, 1864]…I am so glad that Cousin Henry is well. I have asked a number of his regt that are at this Hospital and they all thought he was killed but all spoke of him as being a good and kind officer…and some said that the major and him was the only brave officers in the Regt…my eye is very bad yet. The doctor said this morning…that he thought it was almost impossible to cure…[he] bled the lid yesterday with a lance which did as much good as any one thing that he has done…[Worden, Satterlee Hospital, Nov. 27, 64]…I staid over Sunday in Detroit with Cousin Wesley arrived here on Saturday night…arrived at the dock too late which I will have too blame Wesley for as he said that the boat did not start until 10 and it started at 8…[Worden, Satterlee Hospital, Jan. 11, 65]…the wards are so cold that we can not step away from the stove…the corridor is 900 feet long on each side and the wards all join them and have no door…I do hope that our Cousin will get exchanged soon for I have read so much of Southern Prisons that to be a prisoner is nearly as bad as to hear that one is killed…". Also included in this lot are an additional eleven (11) war-date home front letters to and from the Knapp family.
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