(MILITARY) Fine group of 38 Civil War era letters concerning

Sale 1961 - Lot 281

Unsold

Estimate: $ 7,000 - $ 10,000

(MILITARY.) Fine group of 38 Civil War era letters concerning African American soldiers, some of the letters with illustrations. 135 pages, principally 8vo; plus 4 loose sketches enclosed at one time with the letters; 15 mailing envelopes. Principally Virginia, 1862-65

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Additional Details

Included are a number of letters from Aaron and George Sager to their mother in Syracuse, NY. The letters in general discuss the war, battles, hunger, disease, and the discomforts of camp life. Some are augmented with amusing illustrations by the correspondents. Most important, however, are the descriptions of ex-slaves that had joined the companies as cooks and as menial laborers. "There are more niggers about here than there was at Washington. I'll give you a sketch of one [drawing inserted here] or rather a family of them where there were a half dozen just alike, perhaps an inch difference in height [drawing here]. Black and greasy at that, but they have souls and feelings. I am sorry for them and hope the day may come when the Negro may lay claim to the sympathy of the haughty, silly Sourtherners." Further descriptions are found throughout the letters. There are 4 additional sketches by George Sager which had accompanied the letters. A few letters are incomplete - full typed transcriptions accompany each letter.