Raynors HCA 2014-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/6/2014
Autograph Letter Signed by James Livingston, concerning the Funeral of President Lincoln, and the release of Rebel Prisoners, April 29, 1865, 4pp. octavo, written from Elmira, New York, by Paymaster's Clerk James L. Livingston to his father, Captain Robert W. Livingston of the 118th New York. He writes, in part: "... A new Regiment, the 194th has been organizing here, and we have been paying bounties to them, have payed six companies and will pay the other four Monday and Tuesday. I suppose you have seen the last order discharging all recruits in barracks, for old Regiments, and all soldiers in Hospitals unable to join their Regiments and that will keep the mustering portion of our office busy for a while. And then the whole Army is to be discharged within the next month, which will make work for us for a month longer. I suppose your Regiment will be discharged now in a very short time. The Rebel prisoners here are to be released as fast as they can be paroled....." He goes on to give his opinion of Lincoln's funeral train procession, "...There are two papers only published here; the Advertiser and the Gazette, representing both parties... I have not examined the Advertiser, but I believe there is not much in it of the funeral. What do you think about their toting Lincoln's corpse around to make a show of. It seems mighty foolish for a civilized nation to me and I reckon it will be sneered at not a little by Foreign nations..." There is excellent content relating to President Lincoln's Funeral Tour, the release of Rebel prisoners and discharging of Regiments after the Civil War, and his personal income taxes. Very good condition.
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