Lot 861
Civil War Union Prison War-Dated Archive of Letters. An outstanding collection of letters written by John C. Beattie, Keeper of the Prison at Dennemora, New York, primarily during the Civil War period of 1862 to 1865. There are a total of 41 letters, 27 of them written by Beattie; the other 14 were written by other family members. Beattie mostly wrote to his wife and children, Martha and Robert. Interesting content, sold "as is"; overall very good to fine.
Excerpts from letters of 1862-3 include:"…all is quiet at the prison since that convict was kilt. If we have one more kilt then we would be all right… I think Bill is at Biekman with Gen Pope. He will see hard times and may be dead before this time…There is a Rail Road that runs from Portsmouth to Richmond. I think the way that Gen Burnside Army will go to Richmond… It takes so long to get the news here. Burnsides has gone over the river after the rebels. I think Burnside will lick them out. O how many will have to bite the dust…"; [Robert] wrote "It would be better for the Regiment to march 10 miles a day than lay in them tents…A Copper Head brought in a report that Gen Hooker was whipped. That hit me hard nock…Well we will soon hear of a battle between Gen Meade and Gen Lee. Oh that I could guide a ball to his Heart that would end this War…"
Letters of 1864-5 include such commentary as: "…Gen Slocum has gone with Sherman…If Lee should send out a large force from Richmond, we shall hear of a big fight." A letter written on April 27, 1865 includes: "We hear a report that Booth has been shot… I am sorry that they did not take him alive so they could have hang him. He ought to be burnt at the stake. I am sorry that Gen Sherman has made a fool of himself. It looks as if he had sold out to Johnson or Jeff but we have got Gen Grant left…."
Estimated Value $2,000 - 4,000.
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