Excellent Negro Troops Content Letter and One Other

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2004

Pair of Civil War era letters, includes: Autograph Letter Signed, “E.H. Ely” 4p. folio, July 20, 1862, Becksville, and reads in part: “...it may look like a small business to you, but I find the smallest business pays the best. I have seen this demonstrated to my satisfaction. Introducing and selling ‘Porters Cure of Pains’ the method of disposing is to leave a Bottle with each family with the privilege of using 1/4 of a bottle on trial in about six months I go around if satisfied they pay me 50 cts. per bottle. To give you a little idea of the success of this medicine will cite you to a man by the man of Inman of this town who bought a place for $2000 he had nothign but this business selling Porters Cure of Pain last year he collected $2000 in cash which would have paid for his place but for expenses, the Med. costs 16 2/3 cts per bottle and sells for 50 cts, and the exp. of traveling is mere nominal always stopping with the farmers and a few Yankee notion pays the bill or a bottle of ‘P. Cure of Pain’...I have thought seriously of getting a commission and raise a company but my wife forbids so I have got to be a looker on. We have over sixty men in the field from this town have only lost one man. Three are in the 7th Ohio which company has been cut to pieces some three times and almost annihilated, yet our boys are all right...” VG...plus; Autograph Letter, incomplete, to the same receipent as the above a man named Douglas, this letter is 4p. folio, from Fort Barrancas, Florida, April 17, 1863, and reads in part: “...If I live to return I shall ever look upon this tour as the most fortunate occurance of my life. I have seen so much of this war and so many of its places that I feel a confidence in speaking my own opinions which I never before possessed....The crime, the wickedness, and the disstructiveness of this rebellion is more awful and fearful than you can form any idea of from...when the Government issues commissions and uniforms to negroes it creates a military equality by which they have a right, a written charter to all the consideration, due military or ganizations. The negroes see it and they feel it too. If the Government refuses to recognize this equality, but forces upon them which officers and consigns them to fatigue duty, they will find their condition changed from civil to military servitude and will more than likely fight for their old masters. Take the negroe as he now is, as the first preforatory stop for freedom teach him the art of war; I know of no political philosphy a policy which justifies it. When white regiments and blacks are brought into contact the effects are apparrent. You do not know the animosity that exists between black & white privates. Left to themselves they will kill each other like cats and dogs. They do not alter nor improve the matter by giving them white officers. There are many smart negroes sons of gentlemen and who will compare favorably with whites. Some of thos officers at Ship Island were part white and splendid smart fellows. But they were the ones our white officers would not acknowledge as their equals and hence the trouble. You can find enough smart white bastard negroes in the South to officer all the regiments you can raise. If you dont do it you will find their pride and ambition wounded and they will sow the seeds of disaffection and discord and a grand nigger episode will wind up the ebony dynasty. I judge that you are having a grand right of eboy north. Following fast upon the Proclamation of freedom comes conscriptions and those dreadful measures which so try the patriotism and resources of the country...” VG. (2 items)

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