LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2008 Feb Grand Format Book & Manuscript #682  / 

56079

Civil War Letter- General Grant Anecdote

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:240.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 1,000.00 USD
Civil War Letter- General Grant Anecdote
<B>[Civil War- Christian Commission] Rev. E. F. Williams Manuscript Letter</B></I> (true copy). Three pages on a foldover lettersheet, City Point, Virginia, May 27, 1865, to Rev. P[hineas]. C[amp]. Headley, a prolific author of historic and biographical books, especially of the Civil War period. This is likely a clerical file copy of the original letter and appears to be from the same period. In it, Williams relates a touching incident involving General Grant (possibly for inclusion in one of Headley's books) that had taken place in August 1864 at the General Hospital. Excerpted:<BR><BR>"<I>In one of the hottest days of last summer... the General rode up to our tents... and asked for a drink of water. A tin cup of lemonade sweetened with black-brown sugar was handed to him with the apology that we had no water and that the lemonade was just such as we gave to soldiers. The General drank it with apparent relish; thanked us for it, said it was good, couldn't be better, shook hands with the delegates that crowded round him, asked for a 'light', received some matches, was just going to mount his horse- when one of our employe's, a large negro without hat, coat or vest on, came up elbowing his way through the crowd and reaching out his enormous hand, said 'How do you do, General Grant?' The words were spoken in a gentlemanly tone, and the whole appearance of the man showed that it was no vain curiosity that had brought him into the General's presence. The General took the proffered hand and after a few words uttered by the negro, the latter disclosed the purpose for which he had desired to see the Commanding General in the question, 'How am things going, General?' To appreciate the question it must be remembered that it was a time of great depression among the colored people not long after the fatal explosion of the mine, front of Petersburg, and that many of them felt that they had been dealt treacherously with... and were in doubt whether the Government was faithful to them. The simple answer of the General quieted the fears of the enquirer- 'Everything is going right, sir.' Politely bowing his thanks, his eyes beaming with gratitude upon the General, he backed out of the ring and returned to his work... taking care to send the answer he had received from the likes of the General, to as many of the colored people about City Point, as possible. And it is astonishing to observe the effect these simple words had in reviving the spirits of those who a few hours before were so greatly depressed and disheartened. This occurrence shows that General Grant is willing and has always been to be politely approached by any colored man, and makes us hope that in him the colored man has one of its best and truest friends. I question if any other of our Generals would have given the same respectful attention and answer to the question...</B></I>"<BR><BR>Rev. E. F. Williams was a field agent of the US. Christian Commission, an important Union agency during the Civil War. It was religious in nature but also furnishing numerous social services and recreation to the soldiers of the U.S. Army; it provided Protestant chaplains and social workers, and collaborated with the Sanitary Commission in providing medical services. It was formed by members of the YMCA in response to the disastrous results of the Battle of First Manassas (Bull Run) and was heartily endorsed by President Lincoln and many others. In 1866, General Grant himself said of the Christian Commission: "... It affords me pleasure to bear evidence to the services rendered, and the manner in which they have been rendered. By the agency of the Commission much suffering has been saved on almost every battlefield and in every hospital during the late rebellion..."<BR><BR>In 1885, the recipient of this letter, Reverend Headley, published a book, <I>Fight it Out on this Line: The Life and Deeds of Gen. U. S. Grant</B></I>. A quick search did not reveal the inclusion of this particular incident in that volume leading us to surmise that it may remain unpublished. This short sentence spoken by a great man that had such an uplifting effect on a group of downtrodden people should not be forgotten. Fine condition.<BR><BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Flat Material, Small (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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