2005-03
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/28/2005
TOTTEN, James (1818-1871) West Point graduate, who served in the military from 1841-70, being appointed a Brigadier General from Missouri during the Civil War. Autograph Letter Signed, “James Totten” 2-1/2p. folio, Washington, April 14, 1845, with integral address to Jonathan Totten in Ohio, it reads in part: “...we have just received the news of the burning down of the City of Pittsubrgh there has passed through this place 3 different persons that was there at the fire and said that one half of the city is burned up from the Allegany Bridge to the Mongahela bridge on Wood Street, all is in one complete mass of ruin piles of Coffee as large as a house filed up along the street were on fire. Nothing seemed to escape, the Mongahela house & bridge is all in ashes not a particle of the bridge left bu the stone pillows and the molasses from the stores running in to the river. All the banks and Insurance companies are burned up with the broker offices and the Merchants did not save but few papers or money it is said that 12 million of dollars would not over the loss no estimate can be made taht will come near the mark...” VG.
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