141. Lord, Herbert W.
One Civil War Letter and Two Partial Letters About Rush Kelley

Camp Reynolds: November 9, 1864
Herbert Lord was a friend of the recently departed Rush Kelley at Camp Reynolds near Washington, D.C. It was Lord who wrote Rush's sister and brother-in-law with news of his death. Lord was supposed to accompany the body back to Pennsylvania for burial but did not due to a heavy work schedule and his own case of pneumonia. Lord has been asked by Mary Daggett for an accounting of Rush's last week on earth. Lord had, apparently, been very busy and had not spent much time with Rush; however, "every spare moment was put in by his side. I think he fully realized his situation and from what I could draw out of him I think he felt prepared to go. The last two or three days he seemed in very good spirits - was more cheerful than he had been at any time since his admission to the hospital. As I was going to supper the evening that he died I stopped and asked him how he felt. He said he felt much better and asked me if I would write a letter to you that evening to say that he was getting better and was in fine spirits and that if he should not recover he would die happy. I promised him that I would intending to do so immediately after supper, but on returning I found him sleeping and thought that it would be better for him to sleep as long as he would with out being disturbed. I told the nurse to call me, as soon as he should waken and I would leave my work and fulfil my promise." Lord came back later; Rush was still sleeping; Lord went to a wedding and came back again to find that Rush "had left this world of care and trouble for a better home in heaven where sin and death never enter. He passed down into the dark River of Death without one sigh or shudder. The nurse whom I charged to attend to his every want was sitting by his side reading and did not notice any change in him. His death was more like the sweet sleep of an infant than anything else." With envelope and stamp. There is a one page letter with signature but no address dated Friday morning, 17th to the Daggets from Lord which may have been included with the earlier letter. In it, Lord informs the Daggets that he will be in Pittsburgh in a few weeks and hopes to visit them. He also invites all of them to meet his parents in Meadville. Another letter signed by Lord concerning Rush written sometime after Christmas 1864 and before New Years Day 1865 is also included in this lot. "I have often wondered," Lord writes, "why he was cut down in the prime of life. He being one of the noble hearted young men who are so much needed in any community to grace its society, with holy zeal and virtue." His loss is mourned greatly; Lord's only comfort is that "though we may never see him more on this earth. Still if we strive to live a faithful Christian life here below, we may hope to see his dear face in heaven. For I cannot think otherwise than that he is now a blessed Angel of Light."

50/100     SOLD: $57.50

142. McIlhenny, E.A.
Befo' De War Spirituals: Words and Melodies

Boston: The Christopher Publishing House, 1933
McIlhenny's family owned a large sugar plantation on Avery Island in the extreme south central part of Louisiana. Born soon after the end of the Civil War, McIlhenny writes that the "attitude of our slaves to their white owners was one of happy friendliness, without any bitterness, and this is the attitude of their descendants towards my people today." Thus, this book is a collection of spirituals those slaves on Avery Island sang throughout Reconstruction. Interesting introduction. Book contains words in dialect and music.

20/40     SOLD: $63.25

143. Miller, et al.
Three Civil War Letters of Condolence from Comrades and a Note

Various: May 23, 1865; June 26, 1865; August 9, 1865
The first letter dated May 23, 1865 was written by J. Milton Miller, a soldier formerly stationed at Camp Reynolds. He had met Rush only briefly in September 1864, about a month before he died. Miller is now stationed in McKeesport, West Virginia. "In October," he writes, "I heard of his death. I mourned him with the rest of the Company that a brother in arms had gone and those who were acquainted with him expressed the opinion that he had gone to a better world." With envelope and stamp. The second letter dated June 26, 1865 to the Daggets from B.F. McEwen, one of the soldiers originally assigned to bunk with Rush the previous summer. McEwen was Rush's earliest friend in the military. "I became acquainted with your Brother at the time I was Drafted, met him at the Provost Marshal's office when he reported for duty. We were sent to Camp at the same time. We fell together naturally (as you might say) and I had been in the service before, I felt the value of a good companion. We agreed to stay together. I, to help him along in the ways of camp life, duties, etc. and help each other all we could. We did very well until Rush became sick. I knew his disposition well enough to understand that the only place he would ever recover from sickness would be at home." He states that "I tried to get a furlough for him but did not succeed, then he was taken to the Hospital." He visited him every day and for extended periods. "I was with Rush the day before he died and had no idea of his being so very near gone. I would not let him talk much but knew he would like to have me stay and talk to him. I stayed as long as possible and called over to see him in the morning. I met Mr. Lord at the door and learned from him that Rush Kelley was no more." McEwen is truly grieving. "I felt that I had lost a dear friend. You who have always been among friends and at home do not know what it is for a soldier to lose his mate. For all over the Army, the men each have a particular friend who is as a brother. When he loses his friend, he seems to have lost all. I felt so in regard to your brother for we had made our calculations to stay together for three years if possible. I had been in the Army from the beginning of the war till the 2 Battle of Bull Run where I was wounded and a short time afterward discharged. And I must say that I never knew a firmer friend and companion than Rush Kelly. Always the same good hearted friend. A kind word for everyone." McEwen is in the oil regions of Pennsylvania as many war veterans were. He believes that he will get rich and the area will prosper "now that oil has been found." With envelope and stamp. The last letter dated August 8, 1865 is also from McEwen. He is still in South West, Pennsylvania. He had been very sick with a "severe attack of Typhoid Fever;" he writes that he is lucky to be alive. He completes this letter the following day and inquires after D.O. Kelley, Rush's brother, who is now back at home in Buena Vista. McEwen plans to visit the Daggets in mid-September when he feels better. Apparently, Rush's sister has petitioned the government for Rush's back pay and "bounty." McEwen offers to send a sworn statement to the government if her claim is disputed. He is still very ill, so McEwen concludes the letter. He ends the letter by saying that he heard from Herbert Lord who now resides in Salamanca, New York. With envelope and stamp. Also included is a promissory note from Rush Kelley to James Marchand for the sum of $25.62.

50/100     SOLD: $80.50

144. Mokin, et al.
Thirteen Books on the Civil War

Mokin, A. IRONCLAD. THE MONITOR & THE MERRIMACK. 1991. Freeman, D. R.E. LEE. Volume 1. 1937. Muhlenfeld, E. MARY BOYKIN CHESTNUT. A BIOGRAPHY. 1981. Blackford. W. WAR YEARS WITH JEB STUART. 1945. First Printing of Scribner Edition. Meredith, R. THE FACE OF ROBERT E. LEE IN LIFE AND IN LEGEND. 1947. First Edition. Buchanan, L. A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF THE CONFEDERACY. 1951. Angle, P. A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR YEARS. Frost, L. THE PHIL SHERIDAN ALBUM. 1968. First Edition. Leech, M. REVEILLE IN WASHINGTON, 1860-1865. 1989. Boykin, E. CONGRESS AND THE CIVIL WAR. 1955. Wellman, P. THE HOUSE DIVIDES. THE AGE OF JACKSON AND LINCOLN, FROM THE WAR OF 1812 TO THE CIVIL WAR. 1966. Kouwenhoven, J. ADVENTURES OF AMERICA, 1857-1900. A PICTORIAL REVIEW FROM HARPERS WEEKLY. 1938. Butterfield, R. THE AMERICAN PAST. 1947.

100/200     SOLD: $69.00

145. Ogden, H. A.
Meade at Gettysburgh. July 2, 1863

Original Ogden chromolithograph. Copyright 1897 by Knight & Brown. Mat size: 18"x16;" image size: 12"x10."

45/90     SOLD: $34.50

146. Ogden, H. A.
Sherman at Kenesaw Mountain. Oct. 4, 1864

Original Ogden chromolithograph. Copyright by Knight & Brown. Mat size: 18" x 16;" image size: 12" x 10."

45/90     SOLD: $34.50

147. Ogden, H.A.
Brig. General, Line Officers, Enlisted Men (Campaign Dress)

Original Ogden chromolithograph. Copyright 1885 by Brigadier General S.B. Holabird, Quarter Master General, U.S.A. Shows campaign dress of company officer, Light Artillery; field officer, Infantry; Brigadier General; company officer, Cavalry; enlisted men, Cavalry. Image size: 16 1/2" x 14."

45/90     SOLD: $23.00

148. Ogden, H.A.
Burnside at Fredericksburg. Dec. 13, 1862

Original Ogden chromolithograph. Copyright 1897 by Knight & Brown. Mat size: 18"x16;" image size: 12"x10."

45/90     SOLD: $36.80

149. Ogden, H.A.
Campaign Uniform: Field, Line and Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates

New York: B.M. Whitlock, 1885
Original Ogden chromolithograph. No. XXVII. 1861-1866. Copyright 1885 by Brigadier General S.B. Holabird, Quarter Master General, U.S.A. Mat size: 20"x17 1/2;" image size: 14 1/2"x 12."

50/100     SOLD: $34.50

150. Ogden, H.A.
Grant in the Wilderness. May 5, 1864

Original Ogden chromolithograph. Copyright 1897 by Knight & Brown. Mat size: 18" x 16;" image size: 12" x 10."

45/90     SOLD: $23.00