Raynors HCA 2015-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/3/2015
A great Grand Army of The Republic, ca. 1890 speech/story, 4pp. 4to., written by former Musician John Munroe, Co. K, 2nd Mass. Vols. entitled: "A Col. who would not be outdone". This story concerns a friendly rivalry that existed between Munroe's regiment, the 2nd Mass. Vols., and the 19th Michigan Vols. The rivalry culminated in a religious revival in which the 2nd bested the 19th. The letter reads, in part: "At the time the 2nd Regt. Mass. Inf. was in camp…near Atlanta, a Michigan Regt was brigaded with it…it being a crack "regt" a great rivalry fell…between it and the Mass. 2d, also a crack Regiment under Col. Cogswell…the latter had the better of the competition. One day a wave of religion struck the Michigan crowd. We had been stationed at this place some…time and the chaplains had begun to get in their work…a regular revival broke out in the Michigan Regt. The Col. himself was given that way and you could find…as many hymn books as decks of cards about his Hd. Qrs…many of his boys…fell in and followed. Cogwell's regiment…was decidedly a perverse and stiff-necked generation. If there was any religion in that regiment it was a secret…one day while the Michigan revival was at its height an officer was talking with Cogswell about it…he said to Cogswell, I understand that eleven of those Michigan fellows are going to be baptized tomorrow. The deuce they are! said Cogswell…he saw a scheme to out do his brave Second Mass. He determined to thwart it. That evening on dress parade he addressed his regiment. He told them of the Michigan regiment and how eleven of them were going to be baptized…now, boys, said Cogswell…the Second Massachusetts can't stand this. We've outfought, outmatched and out drilled these Michigan men…and so they [intend] to make a mean, sneaking detour…and give us the go by in religious matters…now boys if I were to call for volunteers to charge a battery…every man but the sutlers would step forward…to save the honor of the regiment then…I now call on you for…25 of my brave fellows to volunteer to also be baptized…the line hesitated a moment and at last a soldier asked further & fuller light. Are you going to be raised too, Colonel?…I will never, said Cogswell, shrink from a peril to which I invite my men. Should the Col of this Michigan regiment attempt any trick…I too will go…with 25 brave volunteers for this special duty we will retain our proud prestige as the crack regiment…the 25 volunteers stepped forward and Cogswell issued an order to the chaplain to baptize them at the same time and place with their hated rivals…John Munroe." .. Also included is a fragment of a war-date letter written by Munroe showing a form of military justice known as stinging a man up by his thumbs. The ink sketch shows two unlucky soldiers hanging by their thumbs from tree limbs. Overall VG 2pcs
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