2024-01 Raynors Americana Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/20/2024
The cover of displays the owner signature of the writer of this ledger, "H.S. Joy, Rochester, NY." And again, Lieut. Henry S. Joy, Qr Master, Van Alen Cavalry. Henry S. Joy, on 10/13/1861 he was commissioned into "D" Co. NY 3rd Cavalry. He was Mustered Out on 10/13/1864 at Varina, VA. The ledger opens August 20, 1861, in pencil, three pages, in full, "Went to Chain Bridge August 20 [1861]. Visited the camp of the 33rd [New York], Col. [Robert F.] Taylor. In the afternoon witnessed a review by General McClellan of General [William F.] Smith's Brigade [Division]. The 31 Regiments composing the brigade [Division] were formed into line-open order-and McClellan and staff rode through scrutinizing closely every man. He is a fine-looking man but has been so much exposed to the hot August sun that he is bronzed like a Texan. President Lincoln [and] Secretaries Seward, Cameron, and Chase were also present and witnessed the firing of the battery which commands the river and the bridge. Lincoln is as rough and unassuming as when he was an ordinary lawyer in Springfield, Illinois. 'Pigmies perched on Alps are pigmies still!' Secretary Seward I have always had a great curiosity to see which was fully gratified. He is a different-looking man than I had imagined him to be with a full-leaf Panama Hat which concealed the whole of his countenance but his interminable & exhaustless nose. He resembled a moderate sized toad sitting under an overspreading cabbage leaf. Secretary Chase is a fine-looking man and has a look of intelligence. Of Secretary Cameron I could not look at him without thinking of Pennsylvania Railroad Speculations and what excellent roads they were to transport the soldiers to Washington-superior to all others in the Union. And then again, what great facilities his friends in Philadelphia had for manufacturing clothes &c. &c. No other city could begin with it. And besides, what an excellent place to select Generals from-excellent-glorious institutions of ours and giants to administer the government." The ledger continues, two pages, "Sunday, September 1, 1861-A beautiful day here in Maryland. Everything has the appearance of war. Regiment after regiment are to be seen on every hand. Some two miles from where we are encamped through a romantic country is a fort surrounding a small brick church which is perfectly enclosed by a high embankment of clay and soil with a big ditch in front so as to render it inaccessible to outsiders. Two miles from there to another, mounting several large guns. And the trees for several miles around have been axed to the ground." The ledger continues, two pages, "Left Camp Bates on Friday, September 14, 1861. In company with Col. [Simon Hosack] Mix, Adjutant Mix, and three companies of cavalry to join Gen. Banks Division. Scott and I came on through the same night to Headquarters. Co. A joined Captain and Lieutenants all right. We are encamped about 1 mile from Darnestown and 5 miles from the Potomac. On this vicinity the country is rough and uneven. There are a great many fine farms. Gen. Banks is within gunshot of our camp. I have seen him several times and like his looks very much and think him a man imminently fitted for the position he occupies. 2 I was out riding a few days and overtook him and his aid and body guard. We rode on a short distance and met Gen. Scott in a carriage. He stopped, went into the woods, had a short conversation, or rather a lengthy one with General Banks, and returned." The ledger contains another scattered 24 pages of quarter master business, payroll notes, invoice copies and the like. A 1908 family note accompanies the ledger,
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.