Auction 739 April.

Civil War history book: The Second Rhode Island Regiment: A Narrative of Military Operations by Augustus Woodbury. First edition. Providence: Valpey, Angell and Company, 1875. Hardcover, 6 x 8.5, 633 pages, with loosely laid-in "Map of the Operations of the Second Rhode Island Regiment, 1861–1865" map by J. A. Latham/E. L. Freeman & Co. In very good to fine condition, with partial splits to the map's folds and wear to the ends of the spine.

Complete issue of the Worcester Daily Spy from March 6, 1865, 17.75 x 24, four pages, with coverage of the events surrounding Abraham Lincoln's second inauguration and the complete text of his second inaugural address, including a slight misquote of the famous concluding lines: "With malice toward no one [sic], with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphans; to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations." Also includes articles on Civil War news, such as the capture of Confederate General Jubal Early's forces by Union General Philip Sheridan, plus local items, congressional updates, advertisements, and public postings. In very good to fine condition, some creasing, edge tears, and light dampstaining.

Civil War-dated ALS, signed “Emmett Cole,” four pages on two adjoining sheets, 8 x 12.5, June 15, 1862. Handwritten letter by Emmett Cole of Company F, 8th Michigan Infantry, reporting on action at James Island, South Carolina. The Battle of Secessionville, won by the Confederates, would be fought the next day on June 16, 1862.

In part: "Dear Sister…the smoke from the big guns is riseing not half a mile distant on our side and about a mile farther on a dense cloud is also riseing from the rebel batteries. they have got a heavey battery planted just accross a large marsh and open plain which we cannot cross as it now is without being cut down by thousands. so our have went to work and planted heavey batteries on this side, consisting of heavey siege pieces, and Rifled cannon with the intention of shelling them out of that. they work them night and day. they toss the heavey Iron Messengers of death too, and for as carelessly and with about as mutch indifference as a lot of school boys would play Bass ball, but you may calculate it is a little more noisy….

my last was written on Coles Island, but by crossing a small channel we found ourselves on what is called James Island, which is about six miles long, by two in breadth. the very same on which sutch heavey batteries were planted by the Rebels against Ft. Sumpter, the Gun boats are getting into position as for upon each ride of the Island today as they can. the Monitor lies just below with another Iron Clad boat so they say which they intend to bring against Fort Johnson on the upper end of this Island. it is my opinion the Rebels will defend this Island to the last degree. for they know if we get this Island, and another little Island just above, that Fort Sumpter and Charlston will be yankee plunder in short Metre.

there has been several deserters come into our lines from the Rebel side since we came here. they say their force amounts to about 12,000. one of our Engineers while about half drunk deserted and went over to the Rebels. in two or three days after our men found his body between their Picket line and ours, pierced with three balls. it is supposed that the Rebels tried to find out by him how large our force was and how situated. the fellow told them (so the Rebel deserters say) that we only had two or three Regts on the Island, (and no dout he told them the truth as near as he could for he had not seen any more haveing been connected with Wrights Brig only which forms our extreme left, and is sepparated from us by a large swamp) so they thought they would just pick up what few straggling yankees there was on the Island, they got ready at once & made the Yankee deserter act as guide, but behold what the result.

they found our boys all ready a lookout from a tree had seen the whole plan and communicated the same, our boys were lying in a piece of woods when they came up and were backed by two batteries of light Artillery as soon as they were near enough our boys rose up and poured voly after voly of balls into their ranks cutting them down like gross, at the same time the Batteries opened on them with Grape and Canister the amount of it was they turned and run like cusses. they supposed the Yankee had been lying to them and led them purposely into a trap and they shot him without further ceremony. I will tell one more little circumstance of the war here that has happened through the week and then I will quit telling war stories for this time.

Some of the Rebels up at Wrights Brig thought it would be a nice thing to shoot now and then a Picket so they arranged their sharp shooters in the bushes and trees as near our posts as they dared, and would let a bullet slip when our boys came in sight, but they got enough of that for our boys arranged themselves accordingly, and managed to kill three to their one. One of them went up a tree one day to watch our Pickets, but one of our boys saw him go up. so he took a position in the bushes as near the tree as he could without being seen by the Rebel and watched him all day long, but when the sun was going down in the west the Rebel thought he would come down too. thinking prehaps that there was no chance to pick a yankee any more that day. he moved carefully from his seat in the tree and commenced to decend. he soon come in range of the Yankee rifle and Whiz went a Bullet through his heart. this wound up their Picket Shooting.

I am not very well the same hard cold and cough that I spoke of long ago hangs to me yet. if I was home where I could get the right kind of medicine I could be well in a Fortnight, but if men are unwell in the army they see hard times especialy when out on sutch expeditions as this. I have not reported sick yet and have done my share of duty all the while, but it goes against the Grain sometimes. I told you when you wrote to me to tell me about the little boys and Ida I have not heared from them in a long while tell the little boys I am comeing back as soon as the war is ended to see them." In good to very good condition, with splits to intersecting folds.

Booklet entitled "Narrative of the Privations and Sufferings of United States Officers & Soldiers while Prisoners of War in the Hands of the Rebel Authorities, being the Report of a Commission of Inquiry, Appointed by the United States Sanitary Commission." Boston: Published at the Office of 'Littell's Living Age,' 1864. Disbound, 5.5 x 8.5, 86 pages. The publication reprints the commission's report, preceded by four woodcut copies of photographs of starving Union soldiers after their return from imprisonment at Belle Isle. In fine condition, with adhesive remnants to spine.

Collection of ten Confederate bonds, ranging in date from May 1, 1861, to February 17, 1864, many with original coupons still attached. Several boast interesting pictorial vignettes, including portraits of Stonewall Jackson and Jefferson Davis, a naval engagement, and allegorical scenes. In overall very good to fine condition.

Ink signature, "Jefferson Davis, Missi.,” on an off-white 3.5 x 2 card. In fine condition, with a couple of trivial stains in the upper blank area. Accompanied by a carte-de-visite portrait of Jefferson Davis published from a Brady negative by. E Anthony of New York, and two original electoral tickets from Virginia, headed: "For President Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi. For Vice President, Alexander H. Stephens, of Georgia."

ALS written and signed on behalf of Jefferson Davis by his wife Varina, four pages on two adjoining sheets, 6 x 9.5, July 20, 1883. Handwritten letter to John W. Daniel. In part: "I have often seen statements which did not accord with my recollection of the facts concerning events in which Genl. Lee & myself were jointly concerned but have not thought it worthwhile to correct them. My letter to you was an exception to this general rule, made so because I regard your oration as one which will live in the future. It will be selected for schoolbooks, heard on declamation days, and offered as an example of English eloquence as long as the language lives.

The story as told in the reminiscences though intended for the laudation of Lee, does him positive injustice. He was a modest man, careful never to trench upon the function of others, he was an honest man, a fearless man, and was my friend. Either of these characteristics made it impossible that he should have used the language imputed to him in the closing paragraph of the extract you sent to me. If he had entertained any such opinion he would have communicated it to me and not have stabbed me by such criticism behind my back. To any one at all acquainted with the manner in which officers are assigned to duty, it must appear very absurd that a General in the field should refuse to assign an officer not under his command to an army of which he had no immediate control & in the meantime admit that the President, if he thought proper, could make such assignment. I often did consult Genl. Lee about matters outside of his immediate command and as he stated before the Grand Jury at Richmond, he habitually consulted me, whenever he could do so, about all which concerned his command, and he added, as we uniformly agreed, he could not say I was responsible for his overt acts. Thus he reported to me his testimony, when he was called as a witness to sustain the indictment against me.

Now I will as promised in my former letter give you a statement of the facts in regard to the event which has been so distorted, and in which I think it is Custis Lee who deserves credit for self abnegation and a chivalric regard for the claims of officers in the field. He will no doubt remember more minutely than myself all the facts of the case, & while he might not volunteer to communicate them would no doubt do so upon inquiry." In fine condition, with a tiny hole and paperclip mark to the upper corner. A remarkable letter by the former Confederate president on his general in chief.

Desirable pairing of autographs from the president and vice president of the Confederate States of America: an ink signature, "Jefferson Davis, Beauvoir, Missi.," on an off-white 3.5 x 2.25 card, mounted, double-matted, and framed with an engraving to an overall size of 9.5 x 15; and a hand-addressed free frank, 5.5 x 3.25, addressed by Alexander Stephens to "Linton Stephens, Crawfordsville, Ga," franked in the upper right corner, "A. H. Stephens," corner-mounted, matted, and framed with a portrait to an overall size of 11.25 x 16.25. In overall fine condition, with soiling to the Stephens envelope.

Civil War-dated ALS signed “A. Doubleday, Major Genl.,” one page, 5 x 7.75, July 11, 1863. Handwritten letter to Lewis Jones, regarding his son's heroics in battle—presumably the Battle of Gettysburg, which had just been fought from July 1–3, 1863. In full: "Your son passed safely through the battle and was well at its close. He ran however great risks, his horse being shot under him in several places. I take great pleasure in testifying to his coolness and courage upon the field and to his great usefulness as a staff officer. His exposure was very great but he passed through all the dangers unscathed." In fine condition.

Written just days after the pivotal Union victory at the Battle of Gettysburg, this letter offers a vivid, firsthand glimpse into the immediate aftermath of one of the Civil War’s most consequential engagements. Addressed to Lewis Jones, Doubleday reassures him of his son’s safety while recounting the extreme dangers he faced on the battlefield. The general’s praise for the young officer’s “coolness and courage” reflects the intensity of the fighting and the personal valor displayed during the Union army’s defining triumph.

Two swatches of the Confederate flag torn from the roof of the Marshall House—one red and one white in color, each about 1˝ x .25˝. The weave and color of the cloth entirely consistent with material used at the time to construct flags. Lying above the flag remnants is a 3/8" x 1/8" swatch of finely-woven crimson red fabric identified as a piece of Ellsworth's shirt. This is consistent with the regiment's dark blue Zouave style uniforms with red shirts and trim on the jacket and pant's stripe.

The relics are clippings from larger pieces which were accompanied by two paper tags with period identification notations, in full: "Col. Ellsworth, his trophy and a piece of his Shirt" and "Pieces of the Secession Flag taken by him, and a piece of the robe shirt on him at the time of his death." These were housed in a period daguerreotype case, a small image of which is included.

Also includes a 6.5˝ x 1.25˝ wooden fragment, identified as "A piece of the Flag Staff from which Col. Ellsworth took the secession flag & lost his life—Alexandria—Marshall House." Further accompanied by a carte-de-visite portrait of Elmer Ellsworth standing in a full-length pose, published by J. Gurney & Son. In overall very good to fine condition, with trimmed edges to the carte-de-visite's mount.

ALS signed “J. C. Fremont,” one page, 5 x 8, February 18, 1881. Handwritten letter to Edward W. Bok, written from "Prescott, Arizona Territory." In full: "I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th January which reached me this morning. It has probably been delayed by the storms in the mountains." In very fine condition, with trivial brushing to the end of the letter.

Civil War-dated ALS signed “H.W. Halleck, Majr Genl,” one page, 7.75 x 9, December 19, 1861. Addressed from “Head Quarters, Dept. of the Mo., St. Louis,” a handwritten letter sent to “Brig Gen U.S. Grant,” who was stationed in Cairo, Illinois, in full: “No such man as 'W. H. Buel Col' known at these Head Quarters. It is most extraordinary that you should have obeyed a telegram sent by an unknown person, & not even purporting to have been given by authority. The prisoners will be immediately returned to Cairo.” In fine condition, with an old repair to the back on one fold split.

Henry W. Halleck took command of the Department of the Missouri on November 9, 1861, replacing John C. Frémont. At that time, Ulysses S. Grant was a brigadier general serving under Halleck’s authority who commanded operations in western Tennessee, including the successful campaigns at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson in early 1862.

Although Halleck rose higher first—becoming General-in-Chief of all Union armies in July 1862—Grant ultimately surpassed him. In March 1864, Congress revived the rank of lieutenant general, and President Lincoln promoted Grant to that position, appointing him General-in-Chief. Grant then assumed supreme command of the Union armies, while Halleck was reassigned to a more administrative role as chief of staff.

Ink signature, "Winf. Scott Hancock, Brig. Gen'l,” on an off-white 3 x .75 slip. Mounted, matted, and framed with a portrait to an overall size of 10 x 13.5. In fine condition.

Civil War–dated ink signature, "Columbia, Feb'y 8, 1865, Respectfully returned as requested, J. E. Johnston,” on an off-white 4.5 x 2 slip, nicely double-matted and framed with a portrait engraving to an overall size of 10.5 x 14. In fine condition.

TLS, one page, 7.75 x 10.5, April 3, 1903. Letter to John Cullen Bryant, in full: "I received your letter and write to say that you can send me a copy of the book entitled 'Famous Orators of the World and their best Orations.' I would like it bound in half-morocco, burnished edges." In very good to fine condition, with an old mounting strip to the left edge, and splitting to the intersecting folds.

Ink signature, "Fitzhugh Lee, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, April 26-1902," on an off-white 5.25 x 4 album page. In fine condition, with some light show-through from an unrelated signature on the back.

AQS signed "Mahone," penned on an off-white sheet of 7 x 9 personal letterhead, Petersburg, Virginia, February 22, 1869. In full: "The man worthy of the Citizenship of this great country, should no longer remember the sectional strife, which threatened the very life of the Union, except as illustrative of American valor and patriotism of equal sincerity on either side." Handsomely double-matted and framed with a portrait to an overall size of 22 x 16. In fine condition.

LS signed “M. F. Maury,” one page, 7 x 9.5, June 24, 1863. Handwritten letter to Messrs. Bond & Son of Boston, in part: "There is 12 or 15 chronometers here that want repairs. Our rule is to take them after they are repaired, keep them on trial 6 months and pay only for those that pass." Matted and framed with a portrait and nameplate to an overall size of 20.5 x 17. In fine condition.

Partly-printed DS, signed “Geo. B. McClellan,” one page, 17 x 14, March 14, 1879. As governor of New Jersey, McClellan appoints John Hopper "to be a Special Tax Commissioner for the purpose of investigating the subject of taxation in and for the State of New Jersey." Signed at the conclusion in ink by Governor George B. McClellan and countersigned by Secretary of State Henry Cooper Kelsey. The embossed blue seal affixed to the left side remains fully intact. In very good to fine condition, with light toning, and minor edge loss.

Civil War–dated ink signature, "Geo. B. McClellan, Maj. Gen'l USA, Nov. 20, 1863,” on an off-white 4.5 x 1.75 slip, matted with a portrait to an overall size of 11.5 x 17. In fine condition.

Ink signature, "Geo. G. Meade, Maj. Gen'l U.S.A., Comd'r A.P.,” on an off-white 3.5 x 2 card, matted and framed with a portrait to an overall size of 12 x 16. In fine condition.

Ink signature, "Thomas Francis Meagher, Acting-Brigadier, Irish Brigade,” on an off-white 5 x 3 slip. Double-matted and framed with a portrait to an overall size of 14 x 21. In fine condition.

Rare 2.25 x 4 carte-de-visite photograph of an artistic rendering of Confederate Brigadier General John Pegram. Published by N. R. Selby of Baltimore, Maryland. In fine condition.

Ink signature, "A. Pleasanton, Maj. Gen'l, New York City, July 4, 1868,” on an off-white 4.75 x 2.25 slip, matted and framed with a portrait to an overall size of 9.25 x 13.25. In fine condition.

Civil War–dated AES, signed with his initials, "J.F.R.," penned on the reverse of a letter sent to him by Samuel Evans, Quartermaster of the 5th Pennsylvania Reserves, 12 x 7.5, February 4, [1862]. Reynolds writes, in part: "What I wished was a copy of your Abst. of Issues to Hospital for the month of December for the purpose of filing it with the Brigade Commissary, if you have furnished them such a copy it is all that is required." Evans' letter, in part: "A note was placed in my hands last evening directing me to forward to your H. Quarters an abstract of the issues of Hospitals & the Hospital fund for the month of December 1861 and January 1862. I have to say, that agreeably to General Orders heretofore received, I filed one abstract of issues to Hospital at the Brig. Commissary for the months of October, November and December." Nicely double-matted and framed with a portrait to an overall size of 18.73 x 23, with a window in the backing for viewing Evans' letter. In fine condition.