1408

MARVELOUS SOLDIER’S ARCHIVE DETAILING THE ADVANCING MILITARY CAREER OF A NEW HAMPSHIRE VOLUNTEER PRI

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Other Start Price:1,750.00 USD Estimated At:3,500.00 - 5,000.00 USD
MARVELOUS SOLDIER’S ARCHIVE DETAILING THE ADVANCING MILITARY CAREER OF A NEW HAMPSHIRE VOLUNTEER PRI
MARVELOUS SOLDIER’S ARCHIVE DETAILING THE ADVANCING MILITARY CAREER OF A NEW HAMPSHIRE VOLUNTEER PRIVATE IN THE CIVIL WAR TO CAPTAIN OF THE 125TH U.S.COLORED TROOPS AND JUDGE ADVOCATE. A large lot of papers, photographs, memorabilia and other related personal items belonging to Private Nathaniel S. Wheeler who enlisted in the 11th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry in 1864. His papers, including personal letters, a small collection of Carte de Visite photographs, ribbons, badges, general orders, ordnance and clothing returns, commissions, two small diaries in period pencil, etc., detail his Civil War service through the last year and a half of the Civil War and into his post-War career as 1st Lieutenant, later Captain and Judge Advocate in the 125th U.S. Colored Troops. With the 11th New Hampshire Wheeler saw action at Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and Appomattox. The 125th U.S.C.T. was organized in Louisville, Kentucky February to June 1865 and mustered out on December 20, 1867. His post-War career led him west to serve at outposts such as Camp Craig N.M., Fort Bliss Texas, and Fort Riley Kansas before his return to Washington, D.C. Some of the real gems in the archive are his 1857 Boston Militia commission as Captain, a small group of Carte de Visite’s (some identified and including one of a young black Civil War infantry soldier) the Daguerreotype of his wife accompanied by a note stating that it was carried through every battle and skirmish, Carte de Visite of John Wilkes Booth, a nice collection of very rare Southern obsolete currency notes he brought home as souvenirs, buttons off of his uniform and other interesting items detailing the unusual career of this officer. I found myself lost in this pile of family memories. The two diaries are difficult to read and in pencil but the entry for April 14, 1865 reads “Lyncon shot” and on April 15th “Lyncon Died.” Many Courts Martial accusations and papers are also included from his work as Judge Advocate. This is a wonderful opportunity to piece together a long forgotten life of a brave 19th century soldier. A small period document box is included. Also included is a small pasteboard box of letters, one of which contains a hand-drawn cartoon illustration of the execution of John Brown being witnessed by a black man, a dog and a gentleman with a gun in his pocket. Another letter features an elaborate patriotic picture with a calligraphic eagle done in pencil. There are also hotel receipts and a set of four railroad tickets (unpunched) issued by the Jeffersonville Railroad “ON QUARTERMASTER’S ORDER” allowing a round-trip from Albany to Enfield NH and back over a total of four different railroad lines. There are a number of very personal letters between Wheeler and his sweetheart Nellie Stanley back in Enfield, including one that she wrote to Lt. Wheeler while he was the adjutant of the 125th U.S. Colored Troops (the Indians called them “Buffalo Soldiers”) stationed at Fort Craig, NM. This is a wonderful cache of documents, relating to a man whose career is definitely worthy of scholarly historical research and publication. CONDITION: Most of the collection is extremely well preserved. 4-51376 CW8