Raynors HCA 2018-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/21/2018
Union General's letter written by Brevet Major General Thomas Howard Ruger (1833-1907), as colonel of the 3rd Wisconsin Vols., 4pp. 8vo., "Camp near Warrenton, Va., July 15, 1862," to his wife, in part: "…as by the enclosed address of Gen. Pope it seems probable we will soon be on the move again…you need not be frightened at Gen. Pope's address for although we…will see stirring times…the address seems more directed against the previous policy of the war so far as anything else. I am heartily glad that we have an army now and not three in this part of Virginia. Too many generals is…unfavorable to success as too few troops…on the subject of raising troops…to the late call of the President. The way to put down this rebellion is to over power them with numbers, occupy their country [thus] showing them the impossibility of maintaining the war. We must have a force very much larger than theirs…the rebels…having so much less population to draw troops from have been enabled by means of the conscription to bring nearly their whole population capable of bearing arms into the field…here in Virginia there are very few able bodied men left. The consequence…their present armies…scattered, their country will be crushed…the next six months will…settle the matter, but we will keep a large force for years to come. The day of a nominal standing army has passed for this country…Howard." Also included is a newspaper clipping of General John Pope's famous "headquarters in the saddle speech" and the original stamped transmittal cover, with a blue "Banks' Division" postage cancellation mark, addressed: "Mrs. T. H. Ruger. Care of Rev. T. J. Ruger, Janesviile, Wisconsin." Near fine.
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