2024-01 Raynors Americana Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/20/2024
The Confederate civilian 3pp. letter was written by William Hazzard Wigg a South Carolina native who worked in the District of Columbia prior to and during the Civil War as a government worker. Wigg had at least three children, one of which was Samuel Patterson Wigg (1842-1862) who met his death on the battlefield at Sharpsburg in September 1862 carrying the regimental banner in Co. H, 1st South Carolina Infantry. Wigg recovered his son's remains from the battlefield the following January though his final resting place remains unknown. Datelined Alexandria, Virginia, May 2, 1865 to Charles J. Hutson, Adjutant & Prisoner of War Johnson's Island, Block 3, Room 18. In part, "The restriction to my correspondence with rebels having been removed by the cancelling of my prohibitive, I write to say that from Miss Stewart (who with her sisters are noble-minded, benevolent & devoted ladies), I learn that her brother (a Capt. & fellow prisoner of yours) has written to her stating that the prisoners at your prison have been generally determined to take the oath and take their discharge. Poor fellows. I sympathize with them, one and all, and cannot think otherwise than they have acted wisely. He states also that no transportation will be furnished them but they must get home the best way they can. I consider yourself, Col. George W. C. Miller, & Lieut. Crawford all from poor, lost, and subjugated South Carolina as under my special protection & therefore, to enable you three to get here on your way home, I enclose you fifty dollars-all I have at this moment to share. And when you reach here (on landing at the wharf, enquire for No. 9, South Fairfax Street), I will accommodate you as best I may & will provide you with the means of going on. ... On reference to the railroad map, I find there is no shorter or better road home than via this place, via Relay House near Baltimore, via Wheeling, Va., via Cambridge, OH, via Zanesville, OH, via Newark, OH, via Mt. Vernon, OH, via Mansfield, OH, via Sandusky, OH. ...."
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