Sep 28, 2023 - Sale 2646

Sale 2646 - Lot 103

Unsold
Estimate: $ 1,000 - $ 1,500
(CIVIL WAR--MARYLAND.) Samuel E. Wilson. A Massachusetts minuteman describes the Baltimore Riot later that evening. 4 Autograph Letters Signed to father Benjamin Wilson of Ashby, MA; generally minor wear. With 2 original postmarked mailing envelopes, one stamped and one franked by E.B. French. With typed transcripts. Washington and Elkridge, MD, April to June 1861
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Additional Details

"One man was up on the third story with a revolver a firing. . . . Out he came, head first. They had better let Massachusetts boys alone."

Samuel Wilson was one of the war's first wave of volunteers, joining the Davis Guards or Company E of the 6th Massachusetts Militia in April 1861. His first letter home was written on the evening of the Baltimore Riot, after his company had arrived in Washington on 19 April. "I am well. One of the companies that was with us had a littel brush with the people in Baltimore. They were bound that we shouldn't come through. They pitched into one of the companies when we changed cars. They threw stones and clubs and then they fired their revolvers. They killed three of our regiment and then the company let them have 5 round shots and killed 4 of the citizens certain, and I don't know how many more. They left then as though the old fellow himself was after them. . . . We expected our colonel would order the whole regiment out to fire upon them. There were about 1000 men of us in all, and we had 10 rounds of powder and ball. . . . I should liked to of got out and shot a lot of them." He describes efforts by secessionists to tear up the tracks, which policemen rapidly repaired so the regiment could continue southwards. He added later: "I didn't state the number killed at Baltimore right. There was three of the company killed and from 15 to 20 citizens. . . . When the companies were marching along, some would stand in their store doors and shoot their revolvers. By the time they had fired one shot, some of the company would let them have a charge and he would come pitching out of the doors headlong. One man was up on the third story with a revolver a firing into them. Some one of them drawed up and let him have, and out he came, head first. They had better let Massachusetts boys alone." In a postscript the following day, he added "We are all well. Afraid of nothing."

The other 3 letters were written from camp in Elkridge Landing, MD. On 22 May he describes the impenetrable defenses against a rail attack from Harpers Ferry. On 29 May (on patriotic letterhead) he vows that "if the southerners pitch in, we will sweep them." On 10 June (with a patriotic vignette clipped out), he predicted "There will be a battle at H Ferry within a week unless they the secessionists leave, for they are surrounded and the Union troops will march upon them soon. Gen. Scott knows what he is about."

Provenance: collection of Arthur G. "Gil" Barrett.