Raynors HCA 2015-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/3/2015
A good pair of war-date Union officer's letters, totaling 5pp. various size letter sheets, written by Captain Augustus Alonzo Hoit, Co. G, 8th Maine Vols. (later captain 34th USCT). These letters read, in part: "…[Jacksonville, Florida April 5, 1865]…we have been here about four weeks three…of the four we have been engaged in raising the steamer S. Mary's which was sunken by the rebs more than a year ago for the purpose of saving here. She was sunk in a creek about seven miles from here. She is a fine iron steamer and is the one which carried me from Fernandina to Savannah…part of our Reg. will be sent to Fernandina soon and as our Lt. Col. [William Warren Marple, brevet brig. gen. March 13, 1865] is in S. C. on some general's staff I shall probably be in command. The Lt. Col. is figuring for the position of Col. of a new Reg. and we shall all hope that he will succeed for he never been of the least benefit to the Reg or to the service either. I have down his duty most of the time for a year past. He has never been in command of the Reg while I have been in command for months…if he leaves us I shall expect to be made Lt. Col…I will keep you supplied with money so you need not worry…tell Anna that our house is small and is not finished inside but that she shall have a room all to herself, even if I have to build a house on purpose for her. There were more than $300 worth of oranges raised on this place the last summer…I can make it produce more than $1000 worth of oranges yearly. The way to do it is this. Go intuit he woods and dig up wild oranges that are about 1 1/2 inches in diameter and set them out as you would apple or peach trees, sawing them off about two feet from the ground. They will put out shoots from the top of the stump…they will bear in two years. There are 30 orange trees on or place but the trees have been sadly neglected during the last three years. The place is entirely new except about five or six acres and is very pleasant. Below is a plan of the place. [Here he draws a nicely detailed sketch of the what he titles: " A. A. Hoits Estate."] The land on the east side of the road is not fenced…your in love, Alonzo…[Jacksonville, Florida, Sept. 7, 1865]…I don't know whether I can get a furlough or not. I have made three applications for a leave of absence this summer…without success…you must be ready to come out here at all events. You can bring out the extension table by putting it into a large box and then you can fill the box with bedding & crockery for large plates are 40 cts each here & other articles in proportion…the ladies here wear only white under clothing and light delains, ginghams, and muslims [are] common for dresses. White muslins and muslins with small figures are much worn. Light calicos are worn for morning dresses. Black silk will always be fashionable anywhere and are worn here a great deal. Hats have almost superseded bonnets and cashmere shawls are not worn much. You must have a Baker & Grover sewing machine…and a good supply of gaiter boots, gloves, lace collars, under sleeves & handkerchiefs…these things are so high here…you will be obliged to have them. Ladies stockings (none but white are worn) [much on pricing here]…the house that has been built for me contains only two rooms 12 x 12…you must have a side saddle…I have two good saddle horses and we can have some fine times riding out…lumber is worth $40.00 per thousand feet and shingles $4.00 to $5.00 per thousand. A shingle mill is much needed here as they is only one in the country and that does not feed itself…the Colts have to be shone by hand…I cannot send money by express as there is no office or agent here…". Also included is a contemporary copy of Hoit's satisfaction of a Racine, Wisconsin deed in 1853. Overall VG
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