2006-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/31/2006
Autograph Letter Signed, 4p. folio, May 29, 1861, Somach Rancho, Missouri, May 29, 1861, and reads in part: “...Our state is in the midst of fearful revolution business of all kinds is paralyzed, fields neglected, & the people wild with excitement. Our Governor, Legislature, & about one third of the people are for plunging the State into the Damnable whirlpool of Secession, while the remainder are standing firm to the Union, organizing military companies (under our late odious Military law) on the one hand & Home Guard companies on the other. Arming & drilling is the order of the day...two weeks ago the reign of terror was attempted to be inaugurated the secret secession of the Legislature adjoined & the members turned loose all over the state like so many blood hounds. Inflamatory speeches, secession Flag raisings & every conceivable kind of threats made against Union men, by hanging, shooting, assassination & order to leave the state in so many days &c &c all intended to intimidate the Union element & carry the state right overboard at one grand flourish, but thank God the Union party was composed of the best citizens in the country & every man that could talk atall called meetings in the respective townships, organized Home Guard companies, every man arming himself with all the old rifles, shot guns, muskets, revolvers, & knives that he could muster commenced drilling presented a bold Front & said to them that he hanging of the first man would be the signal for a free fight & my impression is that the promptiness of the Union men & their determined bravery has intimdated the movement...On last Saturday I called a meeting of this township made a Union speech & organized a company of Home Guards. I received the unanimous vote of the company for captain...next Saturday we will arrange a company of Infantry...you can rest assured that the Union men will fight to the death before they will be percipitated. We have not had much time to devote to the national trouble aas our House is divided against itself & self preservation is the first law of nautre...this state will be the bloody field ...Gen. Harney in St. Louis with Government troops has had a good effect it has not only intimidated the secession but strengthened the Union sentiment...the most strinking peculiarities of this struggle is that all (or nearly so) of the principal men, property holders, & slave owners, are for sustaining the Government, while the broken down politicians, one horse laayers, quack doctors, poor white folks & loafers are for secession...” More. Though signed Y U , penciled next to this is “Clark Wright” who was later colonel of the 6th Missouri Cavalry. VG.
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