Mar 26, 2015 - Sale 2377

Sale 2377 - Lot 395

Unsold
Estimate: $ 2,000 - $ 3,000
UNION SOLDIER, ELISHA N. PIERCE'S LETTER. "My own dear wife" A fine and humorous letter, describing what amounts to an impromptu minstrel show, provided by two "contrabands" slaves, who also describe a magic talisman, or "Jack" they used to find the Union lines. 10 pages, on small 8vo sheets, creases where folded; with the original envelope, addressed to Mrs. E. N. Pierce, West Cambridge Mass. Pine Tree Signal Station, Out Post Line, North Carolina, 3 January, 1864
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an exceptional letter, rich in detail, from a capable writer. Second Lieutenant Elisha N. Pierce describes a pair of contrabands Ned and Jerry, late of Betsy Sulervan's (Sullivan) plantation who had crossed into a Union camp. "I had them brought into my tent, and had the furniture, i.e. two hard tack boxes . . .moved to one corner and room made for a dance. All Darkies can dance, but these were professional characters: Ned and Jerry. Ned is a dancer & Jerry is a songster, makes up songs about everything of interest in Dukeling County." Pierce proceeds to describe and write down a long typical slave song "shout," with replying refrain: "Poor old Betsy---Gone Away. Had two Niggers---Gone Away, Betsy's groaning--- Gone Away, Niggers Happy--- Gone Away, Free Darkies Gone Away, Independent Darkies---Gone Away." This goes on for a half an hour. After, Ned and Jerry describe how they had made a "Jack" or talisman, from something found at the foot of a tree struck by thunder; then the complex process of wrapping it in red flannel and soaking in vinegar with salt and brimstone (sulfur). It was from this "Jack" that they found their way safely to the Union lines.