March 2012 Auction Ends Wednesday, March 28th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/28/2012
Letter datelined North Guilford, New York, 25 September 1864 to ''Halsey A. Rhodes / Headquarters / Eng. Brigade / Washington D.C. / Care of General Benham.'' Letter discusses Lincoln's draft orders, ''...There has been a great excitement for the last five or six weeks in getting volunteers to fill the quotas on the last call of 500,000...they have paid (the different towns) bounties from five hundred to one thousand dollars to each man for one year...Dan Gibbs is home again on furlough, he is one lucky soldier, gets to leave to come home two or three times a year and make good long visits. His wife has a little daughter, perhaps that accounts for his being here now...(john) has enlisted for one year, eleven hundred and fifty dollars bounty he expects to get, they have two sons left...'' Letter refers, of course, to Lincoln's call in July 1864 for 500,000 to enlist. Perks to encourage enlistment included money ranging from $50 to over $1,000, or a promise of an extended furlough. 4pp. ink letter measures 5'' x 8''. Excellent condition.
1864 Civilian Letter to Soldier of General Benham's Brigade -- ''...There has been a great excitement...in getting volunteers...on the last call of 500,000...''
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