Raynors HCA 2015-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/3/2015
A rare description of the Statue of Freedom nearly two years before it was installed upon the US Capitol dome. Already a national sensation, the Statue of Freedom was well known to the American public. In this letter, our soldier gives a vivid and surprisingly accurate description of the monument that was begun in Rome, Italy in 1857 and finished at Clark Mills bronze foundry in 1863 by slave laborer Philip Reid. War-date Union soldier's letter, 12pp. 8vo., written by a certain "Charley" of the 2nd New Hampshire Vols. "Camp Union, 1st Brigade, Hooker's Div., Bladensburg, M. D., Oct. 19, 1861", in part: "…we went out wood chopping clearing up a place for a battery. After we had cleared up the place we thought we would go down to the Mr. Miles [Clark Mills] bronze statuary works to see the Godess of Liberty which is to go on top of the dome of the Capitol at Washington. It is a very fine piece of work. It is 20 ft high and is the representation of a woman holding the olive branch in one hand and a drawn sword in the other hand and leaning on the shield of the Union, 13 stars around her head and the eagle perched on the top of her head. As we were leaving the grounds we saw a elk and we thought we would have some fun with him. One of the boys, Friend Mix went up to him and put his hands on him when he reared up on his hind legs and struck him with his fore feet two or three times when we all retreated in disorder, he chasing us to the fence…he is as large as a horse but a great deal taller…we was very brave when we got the fence between us. We dared him to come out and fight…we should have run faster than we did at Bulls Run…Bulls run is getting to be an old story. We have had an addition to our brigade so we have 5 Reg in our brigade…the Mass. 1st , the Mass. 11th, Penna 26, 2nd N. H., 1st Mich. So you see we have some Reg from different states. The army is a fine way to get acquainted with the men of the different states. There are men from most of the free states…it is just 6 months today since I enlisted…I am a soldier in the Army of the United States liable to go into battle at any time and be shot for my country. If I fall in battle I shall fall in a good cause fighting for my country and the right. May the day come when the stars and stripes shall wave from the Atlantic to the Pacific…that slavery will be done away with…we have some good officers and some poor ones…we had a review by Gen. McClellan the other day. Our Brig. Gen. Hooker has been promoted to major general and Col. Cowden [Col. Robert Cowdin 1st Mass. Vols.] has been appointed to the command of the brigade. Has the 5th Reg. left New Hampshire yet…how many Reg…have [been] raised in New Hampshire. There are ergs passing here every day…we are on the left flank of the railroad so we have a good chance to see all of the trains that pass…I remain affectionately yours, Charley". VG
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