Raynors HCA 2015-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/3/2015
A good early war-date Union volunteer's letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. John H. Chamberlin, Co. C, 5th Mass. Vols., Washington, D. C., May 4, 1861, in part: "…the 5th & part of the 6th M. V. M. Regt are to go back to Annapolis…to join Genl. Butler. The flying artillery are there and parts of several Regmt. from N. Y. They have got that place just where they want it. We have about 20 thousand troops…in Washington…it is believed by all that these 20 thousand men can whip the whole South back to the place where they…belong. The reasons they give for sending us back to Annapolis is…to keep the 5 & 6 Regts…under Genl. Butler…we are here in the Treasury Building and can look out upon old Virginia …and hope to get a a slap at them…I was on guard outside the building…a secessionist came up to me and said I was spending my time very foolishly. I asked him what he meant (he was about half drunk) and he undertook to explain…but I didn't let him…before I told him to leave or I would arrest him…he defied me to do it…so I left him have one when he took to his heels the same way that all of them Southerners will when we come to get…them…before the military got…to washington a Union man had no sight at all but now we are here these curses of Secessionists are down flat…the 5th Regt. took the oath last Thursday…it was a big thing to see every man…come forward…and take the oath…we were administered the oath in a park in front of the White House where…Old Honest Abe lives. We are quartered within a stones throw from him. There has been some troops sent out to Georgetown…among them are the 7th and 6th Regts of N. Y. It is done…to make room for other troops…in Washington. They are a fine looking set of men…Jeff Davis is upon us with a large body of troops…the 5th Regt is prepared with revolver and knife also a minnie rifle…I always took Washington to be a large place…the houses…[are] close together …we have to be careful when we go out on liberty. These Secessionist try all manner of ways to make way with us…excitement here knows no bounds. Groups of people can be sen on every corner…discussing the current of war…yrs, John H. Chamberlin…". VG to near fine.
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