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Rare New Hampshire Hymn.

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:100.00 USD Estimated At:200.00 - 275.00 USD
Rare New Hampshire Hymn.
Variant printing of small song sheet, "Army Hymn - As sung by the 2d Regt., N.H. V.M., June 20, 1861," readying for their march to 1st Bull Run. By Oliver Wendell Holmes. 5 x 6 1/4. Imprint of "Balch, Printer, 34 School St., Boston." "...And when the battle thunders loud, Still guide us in its moving cloud...From treason's rent, and murder's stain, Guard Thou its folds till Peace shall reign...." Possibly an early printing, without the words "Soldiers will preserve this for future use." Some staining, mostly on blank verso, likely from careful folding in knapsack or pocket, else good plus. The 2nd N.H. was led by future Sen. Gilman Marston (see preceding and following lots), who had his arm shattered at 1st Bull Run, refusing amputation. At Gettysburg, the regiment endured two-thirds casualties in under three hours. Noted for their grey uniforms with "spiketail" dress coats trimmed in red, the 2nd refused to switch to Union blue for the entire war. WorldCat locates only three examples. Blanck Bibliography of American Literature 8805. A seldom-seen item.