Jun 12 at 12:00 PM - Sale 2708 -

Sale 2708 - Lot 64

Estimate: $ 500 - $ 750
(CIVIL WAR--MARYLAND.) David F. Smith. Letter describing the Louisiana Tigers ransacking a Maryland store and desecrating flags. Autograph Letter Signed to Captain D.T. Bennett. 2 pages, 9¼ x 7¼ inches, on one sheet; short separation at one fold, small ink burn. With typed transcript Frederick, MD, 29 September 1862
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Additional Details

A harrowing account by David F. Smith (1815-1887) of the Confederate occupation of Frederick, Maryland from 6 to 10 September 1862. This was the same occupation which featured the legendary waving of the Union flag by Frederick resident Barbara Fritchie, as memorialized by John Greenleaf Whittier. In part:

"I suffered pretty severely by the Rebel rascals. Four hundred dollars won't pay me for what they took out of my store. In fact, they took everything they wanted, and as for the money, it isn't worth the paper it is printed upon. My store last week looked like I had auction for several weeks.. The Leckliders (father & son) who used to live here, the Sunday after the Rebel Army was here, brought 6 Louisiana Tigers to the store, and they drew knives & pistols and gave me 5 minutes to decide to give up my big flags or die. I had to give them up. They tied them to their horses' tails and dragged them all over town. Washington's portrait and the portrait of Goddess of Liberty with a flag also, they took from the Junior Hall, and broke them all up. They left their mark on our town and the county for people to remember them for twenty years to come."

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