Raynors HCA 2014-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/6/2014
Fourteen page letter, with cover, written my Major William Hodgkins, formerly of the 36th Massachusetts, to Miss Gussie Hayward of Boston. The letter, dated May 19, 1865, is written from 3rd Division Head Quarters. Hodgkins was with the 36th Mass. before being transferred to the staff of Major General John Hantranft in December 1864. Hantranft became the commander of the Old Capitol Prison at the close of the war, and the Provost Marshal during the trial of the Lincoln conspirator assassination trial. Being on Hantranfts staff, Hodgkins had access to the trial, which he writes about in this letter. He writes in part "....I know nothing more positively than when I wrote last, but today my orders from the War Department were such, that I believe many troops will be mustered out at once. On Tuesday and Wednesday of next week a grand marching review will be held in Washington. On Tuesday The Army of the Potomac and Sheridan's Calvary will March up Pennsylvania Avenue, and on Wednesday Sherman's Army will do likewise. It will be a grand affair, and very soon afterward troops will be sent joyfully homeward....In regard to publishing that letter regarding Mr. Lincoln, I must say that I prefer that it be kept from the press. I did not intend it to be published, and wrote very hastily - just as the thought of the good men swayed me, and grammatical errors exist. I always disliked to have any of my feeble writings published, and prefer that this not be printed. It is now more than a month since it was written, and the ablest orators of the land have eulogized the virtues of the illustrious dead, and the public have read the most eloquent and glowing tributes, from America's choicest scholars....I believe I have told you before that Gen'l Hartranft is in Washington, having complete control of the Assassins and Conspirators, now on trial for their lives. Yesterday I went up to the city, and was admitted to the court room and remained there 2 or 3 hours, (Colonel Frederich conducted us to the court room. We went over to Dodd), and I was within three feet of Mrs. Surrat, and Assassin Payne. Such a rough set of cut throats I ever saw. The evidence was principally against Atzerott and Arnold. Judge Advocate Holt is a magnificent looking man. Solid. We saw General Hantranft and many other Generals of note....". Hodgkins signs the end of the letter "Will". While letters about the assassination appear with some regularity, first account letters pertaining to seeing the actual Conspirators, during the trial, are scarce, and rarely, if ever appear on the market.
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