Oct 02, 2012 - Sale 2287

Sale 2287 - Lot 186

Price Realized: $ 900
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 600 - $ 900
(CIVIL WAR--NEW YORK.) Correspondence of David M. Evans, who raised the Union flag above the Richmond courthouse. 37 manuscript items, various sizes and conditions, most without any notable faults. Vp, 1861-85
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Additional Details

David Morris Evans (1831-1924) was born and raised in Albany, NY, graduated from Williams College, and served in New York regiments, reaching the rank of colonel. The earliest item in this collection is an epic 12-page letter he wrote as a sergeant in the 35th New York Infantry at Fort Morgan, DC, on 1 September 1861. Most of the letter describes his company's skirmish at Hall's Hill, otherwise known as Ball's Crossroads or Bailey's Crossroads. His reconnaissance squad was led by Israel Richardson of the 2nd Michigan, later a major general, who sent Evans's company to creep among the rebel pickets on a pitch-black moonless night.
16 items in this lot are from the last days of the war in April 1865, when Evans took command of the 20th New York Cavalry as colonel. Included is a 5 April 1865 letter from Private John D. Thompson of the 20th to his parents. Describing the occupation of Richmond, he writes that his unit was "first to enter the city, Col. D.M. Evans planted the Stars and Strips on the Capitol on the 3rd inst. . . . The most of the cittizens were overjoyed to see us and espeacially the collard class." Colonel Evans apparently was given this letter after the war, and transcribed it to preserve as evidence of his flag-raising. After the occupation, Evans was assigned to administer oaths of allegiance to the citizens of Richmond as an assistant provost marshal. His orders and 3 of the signed oaths are included in this lot, along with several related letters.
Finally, the collection includes 12 postwar letters between Evans and his wife, 1866-85; 7 letters from the Earl of Enniskillen concerning Evans's work as superintendent of the Philadelphia mint, 1878; and a retained copy of a congratulatory letter from Evans to his college classmate James A. Garfield upon election to the presidency, 10 November 1880.