2005-03
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/28/2005
A very scarce Confederate state election return for a regiment while actively engaged against the enemy in the field. War-date, 1p. oblong folio, North Carolina state election return "Hd. Quarters 63rd North Carolina Troops, July 28 A. D., 1863", for Company F of that regiment for governor, senator, representative, and local sheriff of their home state. Erroneously dated one year early, this document is not doubt for much heated 1864 election between incumbent Governor Vance, and his opponent, peace advocate William Holden. The regiment's commander, Major JAMES H. MCNEIL (KIA Mar. 31, 1865 near Chamberlain Run during the battle of Dinwiddie Court House, Va.) signs the middle of the document attesting to the appointment of three freeholders from Co. F to oversee and record the election results. In the lower left hand margin appears those results and shows that 37 votes were cast for Vance against Holden's eight; the senate race had one won thrown out; and that a certain "R. M. Smith" received 30 votes for sheriff of Mecklenburg County with no opponents. Interestingly, none of the whole numbers counted in each category are the same indicating that the soldiers were not required to vote in each race. The 63rd North Carolina, also known as the 5th N. C. Cavalry, was raised during the fall of 1862 and numbered more than a thousand men. After serving during the Gettysburg, Petersburg, and Appomattox campaigns only five men surrendered with Gen. Lee on April 9, 1865. Negligible mouse chews affects one word in text with very minor damp stains, else very good.
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