1868 Letter re: Freedmen's Bureau & Compensation Request

Autograph letter signed by Stafford C. Cooke to John N. Van Lew. Gloucester County, Virginia, 15 September 1868. 4 pages, 7 1/4 x 12 in. With 20th century envelope with ink inscription from descendant Mary C. Hubbard: "Grandfathers bill to government / I expect Daughters of Confederacy would like this (a copy) / I think it's most interesting he was so well off."

A fascinating and unique letter written by a Virginian seeking recompense for his land used by the Freedmen's Bureau and supplies used at his plantation by Union troops during the Battle of Yorktown. He writes to John N. Van Lew, the brother of famed Union spy, Elizabeth Van Lew. John N. Van Lew had served against his will and under duress in Company C of the 18th Virginia Infantry for a brief time in 1864, and had aided his abolitionist sister in her espionage efforts.

Mr. Cook opens his letter: "In accordance with your suggestion made during our last interview, you will find a subjoined statement containing the circumstances which caused me to leave my home, when Genl. McClellan appeared with the "Union Army" before Yorktown. Also my reasons why the UStates Government should indemnify my losses sustained at that time, by its use of, and consumption of my personal property." He goes on to detail that his property was on the public road between the contending armies and had a seven children, six of whom were daughters, with his wife. Being in a precarious position, "about four days previous to Genl McClellan's arrival before Yorktown, I with my family and a part of my furniture, were taken and carried by Confederate wagons in the night, and placed on the shore at Yorktown to seek shelter wherever we could find it." They made their way to Williamsburg, and eventually to Gloucester County. He claims that all of his crops and livestock were consumed by General McClellan's forces, and also notes that he refused to disperse his crops to the Confederate Army as he "to take no part in the unfortunate sectional strife"

He goes on to detail the Act of Congress which defined abandoned property (2 July 1864) "when the lawful owner thereof shall be voluntarily absent there from engaged either in arms or otherwise in aiding or encouraging the rebellion." He argues that he did not leave voluntarily, nor did he aid the rebellion or take up arms. Regardless, his land had been used the Freedmen's Bureau with 219 refugees settled there until March 1867, and 86 still remaining. He concludes his letter with an enumeration of what he believed he was owed, including the cost of his crops, livestock, timber, farm equipment, buildings, and the "use of 400 acres of tillable land for four years."

The petitions Cook made to the Freedmen's Bureau are recorded in the Bureau's Records, though it is unrecorded if he and his family ever reclaimed their land or received compensation from the government.

Condition: short separations along old folds, minor toning.

[Civil War, Union, Confederate, African Americana, Slavery, Abolition, Enslavement, Emancipation, Freedmen's Bureau, Reconstruction]