Raynors HCA 2016-10
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/21/2016
An exceedingly rare war-date former slave's dictated "dear john" letter, 1 1/4pp. 8vo., addressed to Miss. Hannah Kuntz by George Harget who was the servant to the 44th Mass. chaplain. George had promised to marry her, but now he informs her that he is going to marry her sister instead! Apparently, Harget was a runaway slave who could not read or write so he dictated his letter to a certain "Carl" of the the 44th. Miss. Kuntz who was then at Beaufort must have been shocked and horrified upon reading his letter. Unfortunately, we do not know the outcome of George's decision. His letter reads, in part: "My dearest Hannah, I'm very sorry to tell you that I am going to get married. You are so far off, that it seems as there were no hopes of my ever seeing you. I know you and I was promised to marry first, but then as it is I have forsaken you for Miss. Harriet; but then I hope it wont make us fall out any…worse with each other. I hope to see you again. You was my beloved and I thought none better than you, but you are so far away that I may never see you again so I thought best to marry Miss. Harriet. I hope you will find some right smart, nice sort of a young fellow who will take my place as your husband. So good-bye loved one from George Harget." Also, included here is Carl's letter home, 4pp. 4to., New Bern, June 1, 1863 in which he says he says he tried to dissuade the misguided suitor. His letter reads, in part: "…the army is the best place to study the tricks and games of men…General Foster told Col. [Francis L.] Lee…that we should leave on the eighth if the Rebels don't come down…I have no fears of a Rebel attack at present as they are smart than to fight Foster with eight thousand men…I enclose a letter which I wrote for the Chaplain's slave, George. He was engaged to this Miss. Hannah, but as she lived at Beaufort he could not see her often enough, so forsook her for her sister Harriet, cruel youth. He acme to me and asked me if I would write this for him…it is word for word…I tried to frighten him by telling him that it was a breach of promise and that he was liable to be put in prison but he did the fatal deed and on Saturday night took to his heart Miss. Harriet…". A rare pair of letter that are worthy of further research. Both Near fine to VG.
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