Collection of three letters related to the Civil War from the Union’s perspective: the first, June 7, 1864, in part: “I was surprised when I came in sight of Norfolk, for judging from his reputation I expected to see something grand. Instead of that I never saw as mean a place before…the same air of desolation is found here that is common everywhere where slavery has ever existed. You see nothing in any city south of Pennsylvania that can be called beautiful…I will enclose a leaf as a memento from Fort Monroe,” with leaf still present; the second, March 15, 1865, in part: “My son…seems considerably disturbed by the notice...Brown was to be executed…I incline to the belief that there is no need as according to my understanding of the accompanying Proclamation ‘Requesting all Deserters’ to return to duty is intended as an antidote for all the Pleadings in behalf of erring & accused,” with clipped proclamation still present; and the third, July 21, 1891, offering recollections of the war, in part: “Richmond…May 18…The most prolonged and desperate fighting that I ever witnessed was at this point: until 4 PM the attacks were so constant that I could not relieve my front line…and many guns burst and were disabled. I asked a New York Regt to exchange guns by passing their clean loaded guns to the front line and receive the overheated guns from there which they promptly did and when darkness shut in upon us and ammunition for several hours was only to be had from the belts of wounded and dead.” In overall very good to fine condition.
