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Lot 347
Townsend, Edward C. - Commander of "Colored Troops". Collection of fifteen autograph letters signed, total of 59 pages, various sizes, April 30, 1863-Dec. 15, 1877. To Marion Teall, all in pencil, with original envelopes. Edward C. Townsend, of Boston, was captain of Co. F, 152nd Regiment, NYS Volunteers, in the Army of the Potomac's 23rd Regiment. Townsend is a fervent abolitionist who looks forward to "slaughtering" the "Rebs" and who strongly expresses his love for his country. In April 1863, he describes the "Sharpshooters…firing away at each other without ceasing, Cannon and mortars are continually belching forth their flame, smoke and death but I am getting accustomed to the noise….I am not naturally bloodthirsty, but must say that I am eager for the mighty conflict to begin. Never did I feel more anxious to face the traitors than now…." On May 12, 1863, he says, "…I feel a greater determination than ever to pursue this war to the most bitter end…." Describing his thoughts before going into battle, he says, "…The soldiers idea…is simply, are his cartridges in good order, is his load on his back sufficiently light enough to admit of easy action and travel, will the Regt stand firm and give the Rebs fits - shall he succeed with his companions finally in routing the enemy and slaughtering or successfully capturing many of them."
In his May 28, 1863 letter, he describes "tearing up RailRoads, burning buildings and confiscating things generally….Yankee was too much for Reb….My policy is war to submission and then hang the leaders." On Dec. 20, 1863, he describes the soldiers' exhaustion after returning from "a severe campaign" and defends Gen. Meade from slurs about his lack of action. On April 1, 1864, he writes exuberantly of having received a commission as a captain in a colored regiment, which he will receive from Abraham Lincoln shortly. On April 17, 1864, he writes from Washington that he has his commission and a new uniform and that he has been assigned to the command of Co. I, 23rd Regt. U.S. Colored Troops. On Aug. 8, 1864, he describes "the terrible battle before Peterburg on the 30th of last month [Battle of the Crater]….our losses were very heavy and the whole piece of Grant's splendid strategy, proved a miserable failure. There are plenty of fanatical and prejudiced minds who …blame the Colored Troops and without the faintest tinge of reason or justice. The Colored Troops to which I belong as an officer made a splendid and successful charge….the affair turned out poorly, but any individual who asserts that our Division is accountable for this disaster--or that the Col. Div. men did not fight well, I am fully prepared to say…that they fling forth a most contemptable calumny…to speak plain English, they tell infamous lies."
On April 18, 1865, he tells Marion, "We have all had our hearts gladdened by the fall of Richmond and the surrender of Gen'l Lee, but a gloom…has now fallen with keen and crushing weight upon this whole nation: Abraham Lincoln, our most honored and esteemed President has gone to his final rest, and that by the hand of an assassin….To day, the President's remains are laid out in state, and I shall take a farewell look at his noble features….Never before did I shed tears over the death of a public man, but the flood would come this time, and I was no exception, for hundreds and thousands of men, strong men who had not wept for years broke down with sobs and deep emotion over the news of our President's death….the manner of his death will fire the hearts and courage of the American people, and now, woe be to those who laugh at his death, or who shall dare to proclaim the least amount of sympathy for rebels…."
Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,500.
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| Realized $2,160 |
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