Raynor HCA 2014-04
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/1/2014
A good group of five (5) war-date letters and two (2) newspaper clippings from Capt. George Morell Chester, nephew of Major General George W. Morell. A resident of Detroit, Michigan Chester served in the Quartermaster's department from 1863-1864. The first letter, 4pp. 8vo., on mourning stationery, is written by Catherine M. Chester, Capt. George's sister, Frankford Arsenal, [Philadelphia], July 13, 1862, to her mother, the sister of General Morell, reading, in part: "…I had a letter from George [Capt. George Morell Chester] …enclosed one he had just received from his Uncle [Major Gen. George Webb Morell]. I will copy what he says…July 5th, My division bore the brunt of the fight at Gaines Mills & Malvern and has suffered terribly. My old brigade more than the others. It (my brigade) was engaged at Mechanisville…Cols Black [62nd Penn. Vols.] & Woodbury [4th Mich. Vols.] & Lieut. Col. Skillen [14th New York State Militia] are killed. Col. Cass [9th Mass. Vols.] wounded probably mortally. Lieut. Col. Sweitzer [62nd Penn. Vols.] wounded and a prisoner…". Catherine then goes on to mention that she and a friend stopped to check on General George Gordon Meade, who was home recovering from wounds received during the battle of Glendale, June 30, 1862, and his wife. She writes, in part: "…Friday Jane and I went to the City. We called to see Mrs. Meade. The Genl. was doing berry well, does not suffer. Mrs. Meade sent love to you. On our way from Mrs. Meade's in passing a house…my eye caught the name of C. M. Huston…". The front address panel of the letter's original mourning cover is also included. The second war-date letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Capt. George M. Chester, Washington, Sept. 20, 1863, to his mother, the sister of General Morell, reading, in part: "…since the 25th of August I have been engaged on General Rucker's report to the quarter master general to be incorporated in his annual report to Congress. Genl. Rucker put me in a room by myself and said now Mr. Chester yo know as much about this as I do…have it ready by the 20th of September…I handed it to him…[he] introduced two paragraphs, one complimenting Genl. Ingalls and the other complimenting Col. Beckwith…this repot will probably be published…you…ask me a great many questions in regard to Uncle's [Major Gen. George Webb Morell] position…I know nothing about it and don't think he or anyone else does…if I ever hear anything I will let you know…". General Morell's career was destroyed after supporting Gen. Fitz-John Porter in his defense during his court martial for dereliction of duty at Second Bull Run. The third war-date letter, 1p. 8vo., written by Capt. George M. Chester, on "Depot Quartermaster's Office, Elmira. N. Y., March 16, 1864, to his mother, the sister of General Morell, reading, in part: "…I have been presented by the officers at this post with a splendid diamond pin. I enclose slips cut from the papers (included in this lot) about it…". The original transmittal cover is included. One of the newspaper clipping, reads, in small part: "…William H. Winer of the Quarter Master's Department then presented to the Capt. a glistening pearly, diamond pin, from the establishment of Collingwood & Brothers, and values at $200…". Also included in this group are two letters from 1864. One from George written shortly after he got married and the other from his sister also about George's engagement. Minor damp stains, effect two letters, else overall VG
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