2022-11 Raynors HCA Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/18/2022
Each of the SIXTY- FOUR letters are written by James Cornell Biddle, to his wife Gertrude, January 3rd 1864 thru December 18th, 1864. The letters are datelined from various points in the East. Nearly each letter has its original cover. All letters have transcriptions We will show brief excerpts from this voluminous collection; (1/3) "Genl Meade had intended to have gone to Philadelphia, but whilst in Washington, had heard of some movements in the Rebel army, and on that account deferred his visit."; (1/22) "A Rebel Captain came into our lines a day or so ago. He represents the Rebel Army was well clothed but being poorly fed."; (1/25) "The roads are drying up very fast and I do not see any reason why the Rebels should not attack and try to drive us across the Rappahannock. ... But if they are in the straits they are represented to be, they may be desperate enough to attempt almost anything."; (2/22) "Genl. Ricketts said nothing of his prospects & I did not like to say anything to him about it. I see very clearly that they do not intend to send him into the field. ... I am reading Genl. McClellan's report .."; "I was in hopes today we should have heard something definite as to Sherman's movements. It is a very bold movement .. If he is successful it will produce a telling effect upon the rebellion."; ("I saw Mr. Schuyler of New York .. He told me Farragut had taken a number of light vessels ... for the purpose of supplying Genl. Sherman's army."; (3/22) "Sickles' friends have made a mistake trying to make him the hero of Gettysburg, and I am confident in the end Genl. Meade will come out of the investigation higher in the estimation of the people than ever before. From all I can gather, the President is the only one who has not confidence in Genl. Meade."; (5/31) "The news from Sherman is very satisfactory. He is pushing ahead ... and has inflicted a loss upon the enemy of 2600 men killed, wounded & prisoners to a loss on our side of 400."; (6/14) "I think we are now in the position where we can act decisively ... Richmond is bound to fall ... it will bring with it the downfall of the Southern Confederacy."; (8/2) "I have been sitting on a Court Martial all day, trying two telegraph operators for revealing messages passing over the wires to others whom they concern. ... Genl. Burnside was the principal witness."; (9/10) I hear George Cadwader has gone to Bloomsberg Pa. where there are about 7oo deserters entrenched in the mountains with 2 pieces of artillery. He has 1500 men & is going to put them down. ; (10/10 There has been considerable firing today on the right of the line. .. Genl. Meade has gone out ... He goes out visiting almost every day". (10/220 "I am in hopes Sherman may injure Hood's or Beauregard's Army before they get away. Beauregard has always behaved so badly, I shall fell a peculiar satisfaction in disaster befalling him. He behaved so cruelly in keeping our wounded to die for want of succor between the lines in the different assaults before Petersburg."; (11/100 Genl. M said it was true that Grant and himself were very amicable together."; (11/29) "Genl. Meade told Markoe Bache that Grant had told him he was a Major General in the regular Army, ranking him nest to Sherman."; (12/12) "Warren has returned. He destroyed the railroad completely from Nottoway to the Meherrian, a distance of 15 miles ... Warren did not have any fighting. Hill did not disturb him."; (12/180 "A salute of 100 guns was fired this morning in honor of Thomas's victory."; At this point, there are an additional ELEVEN letters written in 1865. (5/26) "Sheridan has gone to Texas, also Genl. Miles of the 2nd Corps ... Genl. Meade will certainly have the Dept. of the East."; (6/1/) "I went to a party at Montgomery Blair's Senior yesterday. ... Genl. Meade has recommended a grade by Brevet to be given to each on his staff. So I shall have an Eagle in a few days." And finally, there are THREE letters written to Biddle's wife Gertrude from her father.
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