8th Massachusetts Opening ofthe War Letter

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/28/2005

Autograph Letter Signed, “W.F. Chapple”, 8th Massachusetts [later 23rd Mass.] 4p. quarto, April 30, 1861, New York, and reads in part: “…our country bleeds for us and we are here to go through all the hardships that can be put upon us for the sake of the Union…our company are a noble set of fellows, our Officers intend to do all that lays in their power for the Honour of Old Massachusetts…General Butler and other Officers were in the coach, we got in the cars…we had 21 cars…going through Delaware the Blacks ran out in the streets with the Stars & Stripes waving in all directions they with the Whites came with their water pails with good water to drink…the people told us that we should have a hard time going through Baltimore, but that did not scare us much for we were ready for them, we had before this heard of the fight that the Six Reg. had had the day before. We now moved on very slow to the next station here we heard that the Baltimore Roughs had been there and they said we should not go through Baltimore this did not frighten us…one of the Lynn company jumped off the train, the cars stopped and the Officer of the Lynn Company got off and gave chase but he had got too far…heard the rails and bridge had been torned up and bridge burned…ordered to load with ball…got out. The Salem Light Infantry on the lead we formed company…saw a few men in the distance, we here cocked our pieces and marched on …pass them. The 600 that they said was there proved to be about 75 men, the never said Boo….saw a steam boat we marched on and took possession of her…there were 2 Black & 2 White girls on board as waiters they were frightened very much…brought up at Annapolis within a gun shot of the Old Consitution. We hauled up to her and make fast to her then she ran up the Stars & Stripes for she was all right now. She had been at this place about 7 months and been used for a Naval School Ship…the Officer of the ship had heard that the Baltimore rebels were going to seize her, and they work nights and got everything on board again after it was found out the roughs were greatly excited. They said they would have her, but they would have to work for it. The officer of the ship said they should fight as long as they could and then blow her up…the Salem Light Infantry and Pitsfield Company were ordered on board to act as Marines which we did…” Much more. Fine.

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