Raynors HCA 2015-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/3/2015
A fine selection of war-date Northern home front letters written by Norman J. Ray an agent of Sargent & Company Express Agency of Lowell, Massachusetts. Ray would eventually serve as a private in the 33rd Mass. Vols., only doing so in the summer of 1862 in order to avoid being drafted. Ray's letters here, nine (9) in total, were written from both Boston and Lowell, between Nov. 4, 1860 and May 4, 1862, and include some very good political and military commentary on the war while also justifying that he did not want to go to war because of debt. A rare grouping from an expressman who would eventually go to war and die of disease in June 1863. In very small part: "…[Boston, Feb. 16, 1861]…in the spring perhaps things will be better if not than you can tell what to do. Hope things will come out all right when Old Abe get into the big chair…now we have commenced. I say, whole hog or none. He will not write me anything about it…[Boston, May 30, 1861]…Sargent starts tonight for the seat of war (I expect he will want a back seat) to see the sights etc. I suppose that you know that Horace Gilman is out there. He is drum major. Sargent sent him a revolver. He went off without one and wrote to E. W. S. for one. I should have been there before this if we had not been so much in debt…I have work S. & Co. wants to cut us down but I had rather take my turn with the rest in going off so one or two will be gone all of the time…[Boston, June 19, 1861]…Sargent has been out to Washington and was gone a little over a week. He was highly delighted with what he saw there and around in Virginia. As soon as he got home he started for Portsmouth to see the fort…he had such a good time all around that he is as good as pie. Jokes about the business being dull which is something unusual for him…[Lowell, Mass., May 4, 1862]…the Express business will be rather dead this summer although…better than last year. Our opposition party broke down. Mr. Paul [Cornelius Paul enlisted 8/09/62 as private Co. A, 33rd Mass. Vols.] has cried Ruby and is now at work for Sargent & Co..he owns [that] they did not make a cent while they were running. Plummer has a little more grit. He continues to run alone but he cannot make anything as he has to buy a ticket every trip and can only carry a trunk and what he can get in his pocket. They could not carry by freight as S. & Co. have the whole control of Express matters. Mr. Paul has buried his wife this spring. She died of consumption. He is at work as spare hand…that don't suit him but there is no place for him…". Several of the original transmittal covers are included. Overall VG to near fine.
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