Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 22

Manuscript and Collectibles Auction

Union

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 91		1865 Letter From A Former Soldier. Letter from Macon, Tennessee, September 28, 1865, 4 pp plus write-over, Extremely Fine. A former soldier, Bob, who seems to be a traveling salesman of some sort, describes his travels to his cousin. In part: "…Left Memphis…came by way of Corinth and Jackson the former place you have heard of before through me as that was the place where we left so many of the brave Boys of my old Regiment…it looks more like a great grave yard than a town…there must be fifteen thousand men buried there of both sides….The Southern people are the poorest livin I ever saw the white women do not know any thing about cooking and have to trust every thing to the Blacks and it is the same among all classes.…" He is thinking of settling in Jackson and would like his aunt and cousin to come live with him and teach school, as "school manners are in favor down here." Estimated Value $300 - 500. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 92		(Abolitionists) Charles Sumner and Wendell Phillips. Two cartes de visite, one signed "Charles Sumner," and the other "Wendell Phillips." Both are full-length portraits, with backstamp of Silsbee, Case & Co., Boston. Sumner has some scattered light stains in the upper background; Phillips has some scattered background specks, but both are Fine or better. Sumner was a U.S. senator (1851-74) best known for being physically assaulted in 1856 by Rep. Preston S. Brooks of S.C. after a vitriolic speech against slavery and its defenders. Phillips was a prominent abolitionist associated with William Lloyd Garrison; he was president of the Anti-Slavery Society from 1865-70. (2 items). Estimated Value $300 - 500. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $288
Lot 93		Banks, Nathaniel P (1816-94) Union general and politician. Full-length carte de visite of Banks in civilian dress. Backstamp of D. Appleton & Co., New York. Attached at top edge to lower portion of a military discharge for Capt. C. E. Parker, which was authorized by Major General Banks, in command of the Department of the Gulf, New Orleans, October 22, 1863, and signed by his A.A.G. Minor specks, otherwise Fine. Estimated Value $150 - 200. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $115
Lot 94		Archive of Henry P. Soxman, Co. D, 62nd PA Infantry. The archive includes a blood-stained flag; two Civil War diaries--one covering the last quarter of 1861 and all of 1862, the other covering 1863; Soxman's discharge in 1864; a regimental patch with "Gettysburg" and "62d"; and a newspaper article reporting Soxman's death while trying to save his 8-year-old daughter who was run over by a train. These items belonged to the consignor's mother's family and have been locked away for many years. The flag is 47 x 68 inches, with 34 stars on one side and 37 on the other (Kansas was the 34th state, admitted Jan. 29, 1861; Nebraska was the 37th, admitted Mar. 1, 1867). The flag has a 3 inch square area missing from one corner and one corner of the blue field is ragged. There are also several holes and small tears; one tear is crudely sewn together. The 37-star side has a couple of pieces of tape over tears. Soxman was wounded in the thigh at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863, was sent to the hospital after lying on the field all night, and a few weeks later sent home, his part in the war over. This is a fascinating, first-hand account from a soldier who took part in many of the major battles and some of the heaviest fighting of the Civil War. The 62nd Pennsylvania was a gallant, hard-fighting unit. It is listed in Fox's Fighting 300, a list of the top Civil War units put together by the veterans themselves. The 62nd had the distinction of having more men killed by combat than by disease (normally disease killed twice as many men as combat). Soxman was with the 62nd through Gettysburg, including Yorktown, Hanover Court House, Gaines' Mill, Malvern Hill, Harrison's Landing, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Kelly's Ford,and Gettysburg. The first diary is 3¾ x 2½ in. and written in pencil, with soiling throughout. The first pages show that the winter of 1861-62 was spent drilling. On April 5, 1862, he notes: "We started for Yorktown…came within reach of the rebel guns…we were drawn up in line when a shell came and wounded three of our men…" In the following days, he mentions shellings, picket duty, seeing dead bodies left from the fighting, marching, setting up and striking tents, then on May 27 (Hanover Court House), he writes: "…we started on the march…and went 12 miles when we got up with the rebles and had a little fite but drove them away there were a good many killed on both sides…. June 27 (Gaines Mill): "…we went near new bridge…the rebels made an attack on us and we fought till dark when we had to fall back and Col. [Black] got killed in the commencement of the fite…." July 1 (Malvern Hill): "…the rebles came out to make a charge on our batteries but we met them and drove them back apiece when they sent in more men and the battle commenced and raged terribly all day we still held our ground and in the night fell back in the direction of city point…" Sept. 16-20 (Antietam) "…we arrived on the battlefield where we stayed all night there was some firing done all the time…we were called to reinforce Sumner's Corps….we still lay under fire till evening…some of our troops crossed the river but we were back by the rebles with considerable loss…." Dec. 11-14 (Fredericksburg) "they were fiting with the artillery all day terribly…the fite commenced about noon we went into the fite in the evening and got 10 men wounded…we lay there all day…and kept up a fireing…." The 1863 diary is 4¾ x 3 in., written in ink. April 30-May 5 (first 2 days' writing very light): "We formed a line of battle and then throwed up brestworks…They were fiting all day…We relieved the 11 corps…our regiment was sent out on skirmishes.we had several wounded…fiting most of the day…our Brigade was sent out to feal for the rebles. John Buckly was mortally wounded and 4 more wounded in our company…The Army was ordered to fall back…our Division was left for rear guard." July 1: "…got to Hanover at 3 in the afternoon. Eat supper and started for Gettysburg…They told us that McClellan had command of the army, great cheering." July 2: "Went to Gettysburg. Fiting commenced at noon. We went into the fite at 5 P.M. We had a very hard fite. I got a lite wound in the right thigh. We lost very heavy. Slept on the field all night. Major Lowrey was killed. There were 19 of our company killed wounded and missing." Soxman was sent to the Division Hospital the morning of the 3rd. He mentions on the 5th that "The fifth and sixth corps moved after the rebles in the evening…" and on the 6th that they heard cannonading from the hospital. He was evacuated to Baltimore, then to a hospital in Philadelphia; on the 24th of July, he arrived home. The rest of the diary contains farm and weather notations. Estimated Value $10,000 - 15,000. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 95		Burnside, Ambroise E (1824-81).Union general in Civil War, Governor of Rhode Island, and U.S. Senator. Partly-printed Document Signed ("A.E. Burnside") as governor of Rhode Island, Bristol, April 6, 1869. 1 page, oblong folio. Appointing Bennett J. Munro justice of the peace for the town of Bristol. Three vertical folds; signature of medium boldness. Attractive and in Fine condition. Estimated Value $250 - 350. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $161
Lot 96		Butler, Benjamin. 1818-93. Union general, congressman, and governor of Massachusetts. Signature ("Benj. F. Butler / Mass") on a 2½ x 4¾ in. piece of paper. Large, bold signature, suitable for framing. Estimated Value $100 - 150. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $75
Lot 97		Curtin, Andrew G. Civil War Governor of Pennsylvania. Partly-printed Document ("A.G. Curtin") as Governor of Pennsylvania, Philadelpia, January 18, 1864, 13¼ x 17 in. Appointing A.G. Reed, M.D. of Philadelphia as "Assistant Surgeon, with the rank of First Lieutenant, of the Pennsylvania Volunteers…." from January 17, 1863. Attractive vignette of the Pennsylvania seal is engraved at top center. The Governor signed above the bright orange state seal, which has transferred to the right side; light toning, else Fine. Estimated Value $400 - 600. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $230
Lot 98		Davis, Jefferson. 1808-89. President of the Confederate States of America. Signature on a 2 x 3½ in. card. Boldly signed and suitable for framing. Fine. Estimated Value $400 - 600. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $449
Lot 99		Dix, John A (1798-1879) Lincoln's Secretary of the Treasury; Union general. Signature cut from a document, with closing and rank in another hand, as major general commanding, n.p., n.d., 2 x 3¼ in. Matted with a carte de visite (back not visible) of Dix, with printed name and information on Dix mentioning his famous "American Flag Dispatch": "If anyone attempts to haul down the American flag, shoot him on the spot." Three small spots on the CDV, otherwise Very Fine. Estimated Value $350 - 450. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $403
Lot 100		Hancock, Winfield Scott (1824-86) Union general; presidential candidate in 1880. Signature on toned paper, matted with a handsome, oval, chest-length portrait to an overall size of 10 x 8 in. Ready for framing and display. Estimated Value $151 - 225. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $138
Lot 101		Howard, Oliver Otis. A heartfelt letter, signed "Oliver O. Howard, Maj-General U.S. Army." Accompanied by a steel engraving, and a photograph of the General. 1830-1909. Civil War Major-General. In 1864 he commanded the Army of Tennessee, and led the right wing of Sherman's army. After a distinguished military career, he became commissioner of the Freedman's Bureau (1865-74), where he did much to help former slaves, and the first president of Howard University (1869-74), which was named after him. Autograph Letter Signed. One page, Octavo, imprinted US Army letterhead, Headquarters Division of the Pacific, San Francisco Presidio, August 23, 1886. To Mrs. E.F. Strickland. Sentimental and reflective letter with a "favorite" quotation that Howard uses to express his philosophy of life. He writes, in part: " … It is not easy to write sentiments of value, like business papers, to order, -- but I have a favorite direction which I aim at, as my marksmen do at their target stationed at long ranges, it is 'not to let the day pass without making somebody [ 's happiness ? ] because I am living in this world." Very Fine. Estimated Value $250 - 350. View details	Unsold
Lot 102		Schofield, John M (1831-1906) Union general, breveted Maj. Gen. USA for Franklin and given the Medal of Honor in 1892 for Wilson's Creek; served as Secretary of War during Johnson's impeachment; superintendent of West Point; Commander in Chief of the Army. Inscription and Signature, "Compliments of J.M. Schofield / Lieut. Genl. U.S.A. / Oct. 18, 1895," matted with a small image of Schofield to an overall size of 10 x 8 in. Very Fine. Signed the year Schofield was named Lt. Gen. and the year he retired. Estimated Value $200 - 300. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 103		Sherman, William Tecumseh. Matted and framed with a steel engraving of General Sherman, and an inscribed plaque that reads: " William T. Sherman, 1820-1891, Union General - Civil War." (1820-1891). Leading Union Army General during the Civil War. Autograph Letter Signed. Three pages, Octavo, Sandy Hook, November 11, 1866. To Union General Nathaniel P. Banks (1816-1894) of Boston. Lengthy letter written while aboard a U.S. military ship, off Sandy Hook, on his way to Mexico, where Sherman had been dispatched on a diplomatic mission. President Andrew Johnson, then unpopular, was attempting to get his potential rival, Ulysses S. Grant, to go out of the country, and he needed Sherman to come in as his Secretary of War and bolster Johnson's standing with Congress. The President tried to get Grant to go to Mexico; but he balked. Sherman didn't want to be Secretary of War, and, much to Johnson's annoyance, broke the impasse with Grant by offering to go to Mexico in Grant's place. So, in the Fall of 1866, Sherman sailed south, on this mission to Mexico. The letter is forward looking and has a democratic and patriotic outlook: " …Mr Campbell the Minister has with him a very competent Secretary of L…[?] in Mr. Plumb who will keep him fully advised of all matters touching the Interests of Mexico …We have a noble ship and I hope we shall soon be in Vera Cruz, ready to open communication with a stable Republican Government in our poor nieghbor Mexico, able to point to the example of our own Great Country …" Fine. Estimated Value $800 - 1,000. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 104		Sigel, Franz & Slocum, Henry. Union generals. Letter Signed ("F. Sigel") as major general, on "Headquarters First Corps, Army of Virginia" letterhead, Sperryville, Va., August 6, 1862. 1½ pp. quarto, to Secretary of War Stanton, highly recommending Col. Cluseret and asking that he "be placed in command of a brigade and if possible be assigned to the 1st Corps. Army of Virginia." Also, Document Signed ("H.W. Slocum") as Maj. Genl. Vols., Commdy. 12th Army Corps, 1 page large folio, being an "Estimate of Clothing and Equipage for the 12th Army Corps for February 1864." Estimated Value $200 - 300. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $230
Lot 105		(Sumner, Charles). Five Autograph Letters Signed by John A. Dix, Wendell Phillips, Charles Francis Adams, George Boutwell (Grant's Secretary of the Treasury) and W.E. Forster (an English cabinet member), all written in 1874 regarding Senator Charles Sumner, who died that year. 9 pages total, all Fine. Sumner is best known for being attacked on the Senate floor by Representative Preston Brooks of South Carolina after Sumner's "Crime Against Kansas" speech. Sumner never fully recovered. Estimated Value $350 - 450. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 106		Sumner, Charles (1811-74) U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, abolitionist and Radical Republican. 1. Autograph Sentiment Signed, in pencil, on board the steamer Metropolis, Nov. 28, 1855: "Our cause is nobler than that of our Fathers, inasmuch as it is more exalted to struggle for the Freedom of others than for our own." On toned, 2½ x 5 in. blue paper. 2. Letter Signed, Senate Chamber, Dec. 24, 1872, one page octavo, to Wm. Howell Reed in Boston, regarding the French Spoliation Bill. One fold split affects "Sumner." 3. Octavo page with the last words of Charles Sumner, written by Judge Hoar and given to William Howell Reed. One of the utterances was "You must take care of the Civil Rights Bill, Judge." Very Good to Fine. (3 items). Estimated Value $300 - 400. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $546
Lot 107		Wood, Thomas J (1823-1906) Union general; known as "the man who lost Chickamauga." War date Signature and Rank ("Th: J. Wood, Brig Genl Vols Comd" on an endorsement cut from a document. Written at Head Quarters 3rd Division, Chattahoochee River, Georgia. The document Wood endorsed was received July 9, 1864. Attractively matted with a chest-up print of Wood in uniform and some biographical information and framed to an overall size of 15 x 18 in. Estimated Value $125 - 175. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $161
Lot 108		Woolson, Albert (1847-1956) Last surviving Union veteran. Patriotic Cover with 3¢ GAR stamp Signed by the 109-year-old veteran in Duluth, Minnesota, February 21, 1956, less than six months before his death (August 2, 1956). His signature is shaky but bold. Light toning. Woolson was a drummer boy in Company C, of the First Minnesota Volunteer Heavy Artillery. He enlisted on October 10, 1864 and received his discharge on September 7, 1865. Estimated Value $800 - 1,000. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $575
Lot 109		Civil War Era Cannonball. Cast iron ball, 8 lbs., approximately 3½ inches in diameter. Spherical, with attractive rust patina. May be from the Revolutionary War rather than the Civil War. A great display item. Estimated Value $175 - 225. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $144
Lot 110		Civil War Era Field Glasses. Made by Lemaire Fabt., Paris. Black enameled brass tubing. Adjustable pull-out shade over large end. Interior has black anti-flare coating. Remnants of textured black leather on grips. One dent to rim of one lense, otherwise Very Good. Sophisticated optics for their time. Fully workable, providing sharp, crisp images. Estimated Value $200 - 300. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $184
Lot 111		Civil War-Date Salt Shaker. Probably tinned-metal steel, with dark old patina, 3 inches high and 1¾ inches in diameter. Slip-off top. One of the few amenities a soldier could have carried with him. Estimated Value $150 - 200. View details	Realized $127
Lot 112		The First Day of May 1865 or Genl. Moving Day in Richmond VA. Incredible end-of-war cartoon, 9½ x 12 in. handcolored lithograph showing a Sheriff's Sale of the Confederate government house (a posted sign reads "To Let. Apply Lincoln & Co."). Robert E. Lee carries a musket, swords, and a sceptre, while a government employee carries boxes of state papers. A former slave thumbs his nose while a dog relieves himself on the chest containing worthless C.S.A. treasury notes. Likely issued after the fall of Richmong and prior to Lee's surrender at Appomattox. Strong colors, some age toning, a few margin tears. A rare, graphic item. Estimated Value $250 - 300. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $207
Lot 113		Four Documents. 1. General Orders No. 2 signed by Leander Blanden ("L. Blanden") as Col. 95th Ill. Infty, "Head Qrs. 2nd Brig. 3rd Div…Camp 'Battle field' Near New Orleans," Feb. 24, 1865., regarding reports to be sent to headquarters, including "Descriptive List of Deserters." Show-through from mounting strip on verso. 2. A pay order from U.S. A. Genl. Hospital Readville, Jan. 28, 1865, to Col. William Fitch, Paymaster-General of Connecticut, to pay $10 to Charles S. Higgins of Co. B. 2nd Reg. Ct. Vols. 3. A Confederate bond for $400, bought by T.J. Smitherman, Selma, Alabama, March 29, 1864. 4. Document from the Auditor General's Office, Harrisburg, Pa., June 14, 1866, authorizing payment of $60 to Gowen Brown "a soldier of the war of 1812 for the Gratuity and Annuity authorized by the act of March 30, 1866…." All documents Fine. (4 items). Estimated Value $200 - 300. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $115
Lot 114		Four New Regiments of New Jersey Volunteers Are Authorized. Letter from R.J. Stockton, Jr., Adjutant General of New Jersey, to Col. R.C. Buchanan, 1st U.S. Infantry, Superintendent of the Volunteer Regiment Service for New Jersey, on official letterhead with attractive vignette of the N.J. seal, Trenton, September 8, 1864, 1½ pp quarto. Stockton advises Buchanan that he has received a "telegram from the Secretary of War…authorizing the organization of two or more regiments in this State, there are now in process of formation…four regiments, to be designated respectively 38th, 39th, 40th, and 41st regiments New Jersey volunteers. The regiments are being recruited under G.O. No. 131…from the War Department…." The 38th and 39th will be at Camp Bayard in Trenton, commanded by Col. Wm. J. Serrell; the 39th and 40th will meet at Camp Freluighuysen in Neward, commanded by Col. Hiram Van Buskirk. Very Fine. Estimated Value $400 - 600. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 115		Texas Oath of Allegiance. Partly-printed Oath of Allegiance with Federal eagle at top center, Galveston County, Texas, June 3, 1866, 1 page oblong octavo. W.F. Ready swears before Edward Austin, Chief Justice of Galveston County that he will "henceforth faithfully support, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Union of the States thereunder; and that I will…abide by and faithfully support all Laws and Proclamations which have been made during the existing Rebellion with reference to the Emancipation of Slaves…." One horizontal fold, else Fine. Scarce. Estimated Value $300 - 500. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $207
Lot 116		Two Side-Wheeler Cartes de Visite. The Phil Sheridan was launched in the early 1860s. Owned by the Cincinnati & Wheeling Line, it traveled the upper Mississippi River. It had a painting of General Sheridan on the mount on the sidewheel covers and an 8-sided coupulett pilot house. The Dictator was one of the busiest post-war ships on the coastal run from Charleston to Florida from 1865 to 1878; W. Hammant, Jacksonville, is noted on verso as photographer of the Dictator. Both items Fine. Estimated Value $150 - 200. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $127
Lot 117		Union Sailor Sues For Pay and Prize Money. Manuscript Legal Document Signed by Matthew O'Neil, Bristol County, Massachusetts, November 24, 1862, 1 page quarto. O'Neil appoints an attorney to represent him: "Be it known that I, Mathew O'Neil of New Bedford in the County of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts…Seaman in the U.S. Navy, do constitute Isaiah C. Ruy Esq. of New New Bedford aforesaid my attorney to settle with the United States government my account, and collect all dues from the government in my name for wages or Prize Money due me…." Countersigned by a justice of the peace and a court clerk. With cancelled one-dollar Revenue stamp in left margin; embossed New Bedford Police Court stamp on verso. A little research might reveal more about this case. A fascinating and rare document. Estimated Value $800 - 1,000. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $460
Lot 118		Union Soldier Tintype With "Monitor" Case. Marvelous hand-tinted 1/9 plate tintype with a ¾ length portrait of a seated Union soldier. Decorative, patriotic brass surrounds with "Constitution And Union" at the bottom. Both sides of the Union case have an image of the famous iron-clad battleship, Monitor. Very Fine. Estimated Value $500 - 600. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $380