240
CHARLES HUNGERFORD, Civil War Union army soldier, Autograph Letter Signed
Currency:USD
Category:Collectibles
Start Price:2,000.00 USD
Estimated At:2,500.00 - 3,000.00 USD
SOLD
2,000.00USD+ buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2017 Mar 18 @ 13:05UTC-7 : PDT/MST
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Civil War Union Letters
Extraordinary Content 1861Civil War Firsthand Account Letter on Elmer Ellsworth's Fire Zouaves Superb Gallantry
CHARLES HUNGERFORD, Union Army Soldier.
1861-Dated Civil War, Extraordinary Content Autograph Letter Signed, “Chas. Hungerford,” 4 pages, measuring 8” x 9.75”, Quarto, from Washington, D.C., Choice Very Fine. Well written and easily readable in dark ink upon light blue lined period wove paper from his hospital bed in the Treasury Building, a wounded New York soldier recalls the heat of battle at Bull Run and the gallantry of Elmer Ellsworth's, of the fearless Fire Zouaves. Hungerford was a Union Army soldier, enlisted on April 26, 1861 at Schenectady, New York as a private, and was mustered into company A, 18th New York Volunteers. This exceptional Civil War-date Autograph Letter Signed is headed, "Sanitary Commission, Washington O.C., Treasury Building". Written in Hungerford's hand at the upper right corner and written to a friend from home, Adam Rickard. Hungerford pens, (misspellings left uncorrected) in full:
"Dear Friend -- While I have the opertunity to wright I will let you know how I am and where I am. I would have written before had the opertunity presented its self to me. I suppose you have heard of the Battle at Bulls run and its result. Well I was thair on that field for 11 hours and sharper shoting and tawler running you never saw in your life. I was wonded in the leg just above the nee. Its nothing to get hot shot but the worst is to get over it. It was a terble sight to see the wonded ded and dying. I will not attempt to describe it but thair is one thing I will tell you. The bulits flew thicker and faster than the rain drops in a storm. So you can think what a mans thoughts must have been at that moment. Thair was 100 and 25 thousand rebles against 30 thousand of our troops besides the rebles had most battrys to shield them form the unsceasing ame of our riffes which dun great Exicutoon. Besides they had rifles pits to fire from. These are a brest work thrown up with dirt and logs with a trench dug about 3 feet deep and 25 feet wide so when the front rank fiers thay can fall and load while the rear rank tiers over them those pits will hold 2 rig to 18 hundred men thair position is a strong one for thare are sheltered by wood and hills so we have to come right on them before we can all whare to shot That stood the tier well but when it come to the bayents that want thair I wish you could have seen the fire Zuvase (Zouaves) of Elsworth Thay fought like wild beast of the woods. Thay would mount enmys battry and cry out rember Elsworth and fling with charged baynets right through thair ranks and then back again. It was a hard fight I tell you. I had rather storm fort martin than one of thair rifle pits now I tell you the folks up thair it is nothing to talk fight but it is something else down hear for thay fight instid of talking about it. If I could see you I would tell you peticklers but it is hard to wright them for it makes me tird and our retreat from the field you could see wagons broken down the road strewn with rifles knapsacks cartridge boxes sowards and pistals it seamed as if the men kard nothing for thair guns for they thrue them hear and thair and thain all they card for was to lighton thair load to get clear of the ca/very that was fating up thair retreat. I suppose you would like to hear more of the wore. I believe it is the intention to march on bull run. The 25 of August and then if thay did come to terms to turn them out with tar it is the only thing that will drive them from the wood and that will do it with a fierce hot shot and shell and tar balls. Thay can't stand that kind of fight long. Thair was a man hung here yesterday for shooting a woman in the street in Alexandria it was said that she stole 25 dolars of him in Washingotn some time ago that is as much of the thing as I know. The rebles keep a coming to our ranks everyday and tell of the miserable condition thair troops was in. No more when you get this I may be on my way to New York. -- To Mr. Adam Rickard -- From your Friend -- (Signed) Chas. Hungerford --- (adding) My respts to you all good evening ad - Hospital of the wonded’.
This remarkable, excellent content, lengthy Civil War-date Letter from a wounded veteran of Bull Run is one of the finest firstperson descriptions of the near rout of Union forces - and their haphazard retreat back towards Washington - that we've ever encountered. Most notable is this soldier's testimony of the courageous enthusiasm shown by the vaunted Fire Zouaves, who were more than a match for their Confederate counterparts. Civil War-date letters discussing the heroics of Ellworth's famous Fire Zouaves are exceedingly rare.
The 18th New York Regiment, known as the "New York State Rifles," was mustered into the U. S. service at Albany, May 17, 1861, for a period of two years, and left the state for Washington on June 18th after a month in camp near Albany. The 18th was in camp on Meridian Hill until July 12, when the regiment was ordered to Alexandria and became a part of the 2nd brigade, 5th division, Army of Northeastern Virginia.
It advanced with the army to Manassas (Bull Run), and encountered the enemy on the Braddock road, at Fairfax Station and Blackburn's Ford, and participated in ensuing battle at Bull Run as support for artillery.
Perhaps most interesting about this letter is the description of Col. Elmer Ellsworth's dashing Fire Zouaves (11th New York Infantry), who had been mustered from the ranks of Manhattan's Volunteer Firemen just a few weeks prior. Ellsworth, a dashing and strict taskmaster from Illinois, was a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln and managed through his connections to have his regiment included in the invasion plans for Alexandria, Virginia.
On the early morning of May 24, 1861, Ellworth's rambunctious regiment filed aboard steamships and crossed the Potomac to seize the town of Alexandria. After landing at the city docks, Ellsworth led a small detail of men in search of Alexandria's telegraph office. But upon reaching the corner of King and Pitt Streets, he abruptly changed his intentions. A huge Secessionist banner was fluttering atop a 30-foot pole on the roof of the Marshall House hotel. "Boys," Ellsworth told his companions, "we must have that flag!"
Ascending to the roof, Ellsworth cut the halyards and hauled down the Stars and Bars. With Corporal Francis E. Brownell in the lead, the group of Zouaves were descending the hotel stairway when suddenly a burly civilian stepped from the shadows and leveled a shotgun at Colonel Ellsworth, who was preoccupied with folding the captured banner. The man was James W. Jackson - innkeeper of the Marshall House - who had sworn to kill any man who attempted to take his flag. Corporal Brownell attempted to knock Jackson's weapon aside, but stumbled on the steps and the shotgun roared out - the shot tearing into Ellsworth's heart. As the Colonel sprawled down the steps, Brownell rose and fired, his bullet striking Jackson in the face. The innkeeper's second barrel went off as he toppled backward, Brownell following up his shot with a bayonet thrust into the dying Secessionist.
Elmer Ellsworth had been instantly killed, and the Union had its first Martyr of the Civil War. Devastated by the loss of his young protoge, Abraham Lincoln ordered that Ellsworth's body lie in state in the East Room of the White House. "Avenge Ellsworth!" and "Remember Ellsworth!" became the battle-cries of the North, and the death of the charismatic founder of the "Zouave Craze" spurred even more volunteers to don the flashy attire Ellsworth had championed. Dozens of Zouave units would fight on the battlefields of that war, from Bull Run to Appomattox.
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8.25% |
California |
| SST |
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San Diego County |
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Infinite |
25% |
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l. The term “Description” shall mean the written remarks describing the features of a Lot combined with the corresponding photograph of said Lot.
m. The term “www.EarlyAmerican.com” shall mean the Internet accessible service provided by EAHA.
n. The term “EAHA” shall mean collectively Early American History Auctions, Inc. and/or any subsidiary or affiliated entity and/or Officer(s), Director(s) and/or employee(s) of EAHA.
o. The term “Fair Market Value” shall mean the sale price a given Lot is expected by the Cataloguer to realize at the Auction from the Bidder(s).
p. The term “Hammer Price” shall mean the successful Bid in the Auction as determined by the Auctioneer on the Auction Date.
q. The term “Holder” shall mean the original frame, container, case or clear plastic sleeve, labeled with the “Lot” number, in which the “Merchandise” is delivered by the Consignor to the successful Bidder at an Auction.
r. The term “Lot(s)” shall mean the article(s) comprising the Merchandise offered for sale at the Auction.
s. The term “Low Estimate” shall mean the low range of the sale price that a Lot is expected by the Cataloguer to realize at the Auction.
t. The term “Merchandise” shall mean personal property described in the Catalog and offered for sale by Lot at the Auction.
u. The term “Purchaser” shall mean the successful Bidder at the Auction on the Auction Date.
v. The term “Purchaser’s Premium” shall mean the commission that is automatically charged by “EAHA” to each successful Bidder at the Auction in a sum equal to twenty percent (20%) of the “Hammer Price” or twenty-five percent (25%) of the “Hammer Price” if bids are placed through a third party firm including Invaluable.com, LiveAuctioneers.com and iCollector.com.
w. The term “Reserve” is a confidential price below which the Auctioneer will not sell a given Lot, and/or will re-purchase on behalf of the Consignor or EAHA.
x. The term “Settlement Date” shall mean a time forty-five (45) days after the Auction Date.