September 2018 Auction Ends Thursday, September 27th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/27/2018
Very emotional autograph letter signed by Clara Barton, who here appeals to General Benjamin Butler regarding the formal recognition of the Office of Missing Soldiers, which the famous battlefield nurse created and led; letter also includes Butler's handwritten and initialed response. After the Civil War, Barton took up the plight of families whose relatives were missing in the war, and worked alongside POW Dorence Atwater, who kept the ''death list'' at Andersonville Prison, where most of the missing soldiers had perished. At the risk of being killed, Atwater kept a secret copy of the list for himself, which he smuggled through Confederate lines and then shared with Barton after the war. However, after Atwater helped identify the unmarked graves at Andersonville in the summer of 1865 (alongside Barton), he would be court-martialed and imprisoned for failing to relinquish his copy of the list - despite giving all the names to the government, and in this letter Barton also appeals on his behalf. Along with Atwater and Barton, Captain James M. Moore attended the 1865 expedition to Andersonville, who Barton claims tried to take credit for all the work that she and Atwater had accomplished.
Dated 1 December 1865, Barton writes in response to a newspaper clipping (attached), naming Captain Moore as Chief of the newly created U.S. Burial Bureau, which would override her Office of Missing Soldiers, an Office that she and General Butler were trying to formalize as a government department, with the resources that would accrue. Letter reads in large part, ''...The enclosed printed paragraph from the 'Chronicle' of this morning will be sufficient to show to you, as it does to me, how utterly useless must be all future attempts at making my work a part of the Government, in any conditions upon which I could exist. This new Bureau has sprung into existence since, and I mistrust, partly upon, the strength of the first conversation between us in relation to the establishment of a similar one for me. Secretary Stanton refused to make mine, an equally independent branch, and the similar nature of the two would throw them constantly in connection, thus you perceive, making me in a manner subordinate to this branch, and subject to all the hindrance, annoyance, criticism and mistreatment, which ill-nature, ill-will, dishonesty, jealousy and revenge could devise and inflict. Although I am willing to serve my Country, and my Government, and the great cause of humanity, at the sacrifice even of my own comfort and interest, (and I believe my record shows it,) still here is left me no opportunity...
One of the first Acts of Congress will be to confirm Capt. [James M.] Moore in his new rank and position, and establish his Bureau...This Officer with his undeserved rank, his manners, his tricks, his falsehoods, his forgeries and his crimes black upon him, is purposely elevated to a position, where he can thwart every effort, and cast continuly [sic] upon me every hour of my life, helpless and alone...I am by no means the first, nor the greatest sufferer from jealousy, and combined injustice...
The establishment of this Bureau with its present proposed Head gives to him the power to control the Records of Andersonville, which he will do, and claim the honor of preserving and presenting them, while the poor orphan boy [Dorence Atwater], to whom all the credit, and the thanks for the Nation belong, lies, his innocent, persecuted victim, in a prisoners cell, and partly this I fear for me - that the evil eye of the Government might be turned upon me that I should not stand in the way...Thus circumscribed, surrounded, and beset, it would be an easy matter to destroy me, and my work, once in the grasp of the Government by abolishing my 'Desk' and assuming its duties once which in my judgment would be but the result of the original intention. To all this I need not add, that a 'decent respect' for myself, forbids that I become a 'clerk' a mere tool in a work which I have originated and created. Thus General there is but one way. I am doomed, and nothing can save me...
If Mr. [Secretary of War Edwin] Stanton had entertained for me one particle of consideration or respect, he would in some little way have noticed the indirect appeal for protection even, which my report makes to him, or at least he would not, without a single inquiry have elevated the person whom I report to the position he has, and then propose to make me indirectly subordinate to him. If after the plain statements I made him he still believes in the party to this extent, he cannot believe in me, and I shall never be safe under him. My six thousand letters and my Records are my own private property, and dear to me and I cannot give them where I cannot go myself.
Thus I see no choice left me but to withdraw my proposition and retire. And I beg, General, that you will not misunderstand me. Please believe me earnest. This letter is not written for effect; it is not an appeal to stimulate you to greater action; not the wail of a women, who hopes to win by tears, but a fair candid expression of my conditions, the timely acknowledgement of defeated purposes, and my heart aching sigh over the artful, heartless destruction of my labors, and the ruthless blasting of my hopes...Clara Barton''.
A slip of paper from Butler's office is stapled to the letter, with a synopsis of the letter, and Butler's handwritten response: ''This paper to go to Washington with me BFB'' and ''Genl / Miss Barton / Please to take [?] step in this matter of which you have written me till I see you which will be in seven days. / Yours truly / BFB''.
Beautifully penned letter runs four pages on card-style stationery measuring 8'' x 10''. Separation starting along folds, otherwise in near fine condition. With full transcription. An important letter in both the life of Clara Barton and the history of the Missing Persons project of the Civil War.
Emotional Clara Barton Autograph Letter Signed, Regarding Missing Soldiers -- ''...This Officer with his undeserved rank, his manners, his tricks, his falsehoods, his forgeries and his crimes...''
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