Raynors HCA 2014-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/6/2014
War-date Union soldier's letter, 4pp. 4to., written by Corp. George P. Jarvis [WIA Perryville, Ky., Oct. 8, 1862], (signed Geo.), Co. C, 3rd Ohio Vols., Murfreesboro, Tenn., Mar. 28, 1863, concerning his views on the Emancipation Proclamation and of the Hoskinville Rebellion. In early 1863, Ohio gubernatorial candidate C. L. Vallandigham, feeding off the war weariness of the state's populous, incited a number of small "rebellions" throughout Ohio. In the Hoskinsville Rebellion, that took place in March, United States Marshall A. C. Sands led several companies of the 115th Ohio into the Noble County and arrested nearly thirty-five instigators who were later tried in having a direct role in inciting the local populous to rebel. Jarvis' letter, reads, in part: "…this country is certainly terribly used up. There is not a farm within miles of Murfreesboro that has the shadow of a fence around it. The white residents…look poor…and miserable and the negroes and cattle worse… I never saw any people that looked so miserable and woe begone…as long as the people have not confidence in the cause or the administration just as long will our cause waver. I am glad to see the peace feelings under process…the butternuts are being cowed…I hope…there will be a full stop put to their silly jesting…they have found that the soldiers have become disgusted with them…they are running some personal risk if they persist…Noble County should be dropped by the state of Ohio or…blowed up and sent to the devil. I am looking anxiously for returns from Marshall Sand's trip there. If they offer the least resistance to his authority I hope he will shoot them as he would so many dogs…news from England…are very favorable. The proclamation is doing good work there, but still I think the proclamation all a humbug…I can't see the necessity for it. There is only one clause in the proclamation that made it necessary…that was in regard to buying the slaves off legal masters for we certainly had the right according to all laws of confiscation all properties belonging to an enemy. Well after this had been done the number of remaining slaves would have been so small that they would have been no object at all and the owners of such slaves would have been glad to have gotten rid of them to the government at almost any price. You must admit that the proclamation is unconstitutional…hence the folly of its being issued then upon the other hand look at the effect it must have on the mass of Southern people. I have talked with several and the prevailing question with them is 'why will you try to force us to recognize and be ruled by an instrument which you yourselves have violated? If we have broken our faith with the constitution have you not done likewise?'…the question is a stumper…yet I will uphold…the proclamation…the enemy's cavalry have for some days been feeling all along our left and everyday the outposts have a skirmish…". The original transmittal cover is included. VG to near fine.
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