Relic of Lincoln's Oval Office

Letter written by William H. Leslie of the 11th Massachusetts Infantry, dated July 5th, 1861. He sends his wife a piece of tassel "which was on the Curtain in Old Abe's House." Great Content about passing through Baltimore and living conditions. The 11th Massachusetts would be hard hit in just a few weeks at the Battle of Bull Run.

President and Mrs. Lincoln were kind enough to allow soldiers to visit their home in the White House, Leslie writes "Each one [soldier] took a piece and it soon used up two of them." At the top of the front page is a single strand 1 ¾ inch piece of blue tassel affixed to the paper. Here are some highlights of the letter's contents:

-Dear Wife, I suppose you see by the papers that we have left our camp at Cambridge and are now in Washington. We started Saturday at 2 o'clock and arrived in here Tuesday noon. We had 4 hours sleep on the way and when we got in here, we were as tired and sleepy set as ever you see.

-I'VE THEN HAD TO MARCH THROUGH THE PRINCIPLE STREETS OF WASHINGTON AND GO UP TO SEE THE PRESIDENT. HE IS A VERY GOOD LOOKING MAN.

-We are encamped within 30 rods of the White House with the Capitol right in sight and Washington Monument within 20 rods.

-Our march from Boston was a perfect triumph, all along the rail roads was lined with people. The waving of handkerchieves and hats and cheering is beyond description. Every house and depot between Boston and Fall River the people came out and cheered us. We changed cars for steam boat at Fall River.

-While marching to steam boat, they shook hands with us and bid us good bye and received kisses from a great many of the ladies.

-We arrived in New York Sunday about 11 o'clock and left about 5. lVE STOPPED IN READING, PENNSYLVANIA AND LOADED OUR GUNS IN ORDER TO GO THROUGH BALTIMORE in good shape, but when we got there, we found the 6th and 8th Mass. Regiments and they did not dare to say a word.

-The New York Regiment went through Saturday and through accident, a gun was discharged which killed one man and set the rest of them firing. The depot was pretty well riddled.

-YESTERDAY THEY CELEBRATED THE 4TH. I GOT A PASS OUT AND WENT IN TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND YOU SEE THAT I SEND YOU A RELIC BEING A PIECE OF A TASSEL WHICH WAS ON THE CURTAIN IN OLD ABE'S HOUSE. EACH ONE TOOK A PIECE AND IT SOON USED UP TWO OF THEM.·

-I then went in to the Capito[ which i.s a pretty fair-sized building. I tell you all marble inside and out. Congress was a sitting. I stopped and heard.them spout a spell and then went to find deserters.

-We have a great many of them. While I write, we have three of them with their feet tied and hand cuffs a laying in the sun which is not very cold. I tell you the principal cause of their leaving is our food is too bad for a dog to eat. F6r the last three meals hard bread and water, but I had a little money and we have plenty chnces to. buy what we want. A little money works in very handy but I have none now.

-We expect to go in Virginia in a few days. Dear wife, if anything happens to me, keep the children together ifit is a possible thing. Give them good instructions. Keep them to school as much as you can.

-OUR REGIMENT IS A GOING TO THE GREAT FIGHT WHICH "'1LL TAKE PLACE SOON. THERE IS TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND TROOPS IN AND ABOUT WASHINGTON. [The battle of 1st Bull Run took place on July 21st, 1861}

-I am a writing on the bottom of a tin pan for a table. I have got a very bad cough. It troubles me nights a great deal. The.nights are very cold. We camp on the ground without straw, though they say we are to have some.

-Every man had rather go right in the fight now than to wait in our present condition. Dear Wife, you must write to me as soon as you can and direct your letter to Wm. H. Leslie, Washington, 11th Mass. Regt., Co. B, Care of Capt. Davis, and Dear Wife, I must bid you good bye for the present. Yours Truly, Your Husband Wm. H. Leslie.

-Tell Willie all about me and read the letter to him and explain it to him. Tell him to be a good boy. Give my love to Marm, Tonne, and all of the rest of them.

[Civil War, Union, Confederate, Abraham Lincoln]