July 2016 Auction Ends Thursday, July 21st, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/21/2016
Lot of 3 Civil War letters - two complete and one partial - by Hiram C. Barney of Co. H, 21st New York Cavalry, the Griswold Light Cavalry. Letters are addressed to his wife and datelined in March and October of 1864 from Halltown, Virginia and Camp Stoneman, DC, respectively. With excellent content of his capturing deserters - contrasting with a separate letter in which he coldly disowns his own brother, Andrew Barney, who himself deserted. Part of the NY 174th, Andrew J. Barney deserted on 2 April 1863 in Baton Rouge, LA. He writes the following reproach in the partial (March 1864) letter: ''You ask have you ever written to 'Andrew' and add 'if so, I never want you to write to me again' you might also subjoined, I never will speak to you nor have anything to do with you in any shape or manner. I have never written to 'Andrew' and besides, do not intend to. He has lost all claim upon me to call him brother and I do not wish to have anything to do with him. I should think as much of writing to the man in the moon as to write to him and should feel myself righteously punished if after writing him you should put your threat into execution...'' He then discusses his own interactions in capturing deserters in a October 1864 letter written in a series of short paragraphs he transcribes for his wife from his diary entries. Card-style letter on 4pp. is written in pencil, from Camp Stoneman in D.C.: ''...Went to town 10 o'clock A.M. in company with Corporal [Artemus] Weatherbee & Private [William] Morgan. Lieut. Col. [Charles] Fitzsimmons saw us as we were going into a store and ordered Corporal W. and myself to arrest a deserter who was in a wagon nearby but before we could get under headway, he saw us and put the whip to his horse and was soon out of our reach. Returned to camp at 3 o'clock P.M. and arrested three men and in returning to our camp, met the Battalion on their way to take the cars...'' Signed ''H.C. Barney''. In the partial letter of March 1864, Barney describes the capture of three soldiers in his unit by Rebels who were dressed in Union uniforms: ''...Thinking it might be interesting to you and [Henry] Morgan's friends to know how he was captured, I have taken the pains to gather the following facts: There were three in the party who were captured; they saw two persons about 1/4 of a mile from our main column who were dressed in the uniform worn by our soldiers who beckoned to them to come where they were. There was a flock of sheep near them. When our boys got to where the two persons were, they demanded them to surrender at once but one of them foreshowed fight after the other two had surrendered, and if they had stood out might have captured their deceptive captors. Morgan was always relating deeds of daring but when brought to the scratch, was found wanting. Had they remained with the column as they ought, they might have been with us today, and their capture is only traceable to sheer carelessness...'' Third letter is datelined, ''Near Halltown, Virginia / March 20th 1864'' and mentions the honor he had in carrying the flag for the day and draws the flag mid-letter: ''Here I am back again at our old camp. Reached here yesterday afternoon. Been gone two weeks today. Have a private horse which the Captain gave me. It is the one Sergeant Moody had and sold and for which he was reduced. You will naturally ask why did you leave your new camp so quick for. General Averill thinks -- or thought -- he had force enough without us. You will direct your letters as before -- Washington D.C. On our march I had the honor of carrying the colors. They were handed me by the Captain. A non-commissioned officer always carries them, I believe. The colors are called guidon and made of silk and fastened on the end of a pole. I will draw one. [Flag Drawing] I am Corporal of Headquarter Guard to day. Thought I must come to my tent and finish this letter so as to have it ready to mail in the morning. I am well and have not had occasion to use any of my care medicine yet and am thankful for it...'' Signed ''Hiram'' at bottom of page four, the same page that features his flag drawing. Letters each measures 5'' x 8'' with horizontal folds and toning to each. March of 1864 letter is tearing along vertical fold. Very good overall.
Civil War Letter Lot by a 21st New York Cavalryman -- Describing His Capture of Deserters & Disowning His Own Brother for Deserting -- ''...He has lost all claim upon me to call him brother...''
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