47023: Archive of Letters from Two Soldiers of the 77th

Archive of Letters from Two Soldiers of the 77th New York Volunteer Infantry. A group of fifteen war-dated letters, written by Andrew Gordon (five letters) and Thomas Mushgrove (ten letters). Gordon's letters range from December 19, 1861 to November 11, 1862, and Mushgrove's letters range from December 8, [1861] to October 1, 1862. The two men were friends and served together in Company I of the 77th New York Infantry. Andrew Gordon enlisted at the age of 19 in October 1861, but was discharged two years later, on January 5, 1863, for disability. Thomas Mushgrove enlisted at the age of 18 in November 1861. He tragically died of illness one year later at Hagerstown and is buried at Antietam National Cemetery. On March 7, 1862, Andrew Gordon wrote to his friend John Bliss while in camp at Camp Griffin. The young soldier was clearly getting anxious to head into battle against the Confederates, and wrote in part: "I am in Virginia waiting for to go into the darn rebels like a 1000 of brick. I have got to go out on picket next Monday and if I see a rebel I will give him an ounce of lead...we have got saveg guns they will shoot half a mile easy and what ever the ball hits it comes down...we are agoing to plow the rebels land with bullits and sow it with thir heads and drag it in with thir fingers..." Four pages of a bifolium, 5" x 8". In an undated letter [circa 1862], marked only " DC 29", both Gordon and Mushgrove write to Mushgrove's sister in a shared letter. Mushgrove shares with his sister news of a fire in D.C. and seeing President Lincoln, while Gordon describes the disease running rampant through the army. The letter reads in part: "Dear Sister...I thought I would tell you about the fire that was in Washington last week it burnt up one hundred and fifty horses we had a fine walk through the sity [ sic] we saw uncle Abe Lincoln..."Gordon continues on verso, " the worst news that I have to tell you is that our Regiment is diing of fast there was two men dide the other night and two more las night but I am lucky so far I have not bin sick enough to go into the hospitle..." Four pages of a bifolium, 4.5" x 7.75". On October 1, 1862, Thomas wrote again to his sister, with news of battles in Maryland. In a sad case of foreshadowing, he also adds that he has been ill; he would die just thirty days later from disease. His letter reads in part: "I have not ben very well for the last week but am some better now...I suppose you have all herd of the fight in Maryland long before now. It was a Big Battle but we gained the day and drove them out of Maryland. We are all giting sick of fighting and long for the day to come for it to close. It was rumored around that they are trying to settle it. I hope they will and soon to for we want to all come home..." Two pages, 4.75" x 8". Andrew Gordon had to write to his friend's sister to inform her of the death of her brother. The letter is marked only "Mary Bliss" in another hand, so it is unclear whether it is about John Bliss or Thomas Mushgrove. However, from context, one may guess that he is writing to Mushgrove's sister, as Thomas died at Hagerstown in October 1862. Gordon's November 1, 1862 letter reads: "I now take my pen in hand to inform you of the death of your dear Brother he died the 18 th of Octo at Hagarstown. Weriland the doctor said he was troubled with the hart diseas he was taken with fits and he lived two days after he was taken with them. He had bin sick a long time but he did not want me to wright and let you know it and so I didn't but the poor boy is out of his trouble now but if he had done as I told him I don't think but what he would bin alive now. I told him to go to the hospital but he would not go and he cept round with the regiment till he dide. They berred him in a good coffin but it was not as if he had bin to home...I cant wright any more about it for it makes me feel bad enough to cry for he was like a Brother to me..." Four pages of a bifolium, 4.5" x 7.5". Accompanying the letters are additional letters (some post war), a carte de visite, documents, and a clipped hair memento relating to the Bliss family. There is also a cabinet card of a sailing ship. There are a few original transmittal covers as well. Condition: Flattened mail folds to the letters, with light toning and soiling. Some letters have blank sections cleanly clipped off. Ink smudges in places. There are also a few small holes at the folds. HID03101062020 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved