Raynors HCA 2019-05
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/30/2019
A great Lincoln reelection letter, 5pp. 4to., written by Pvt. Jeremiah J. Cake, Battery I, Penn. Light Artillery, "Hd. Qrs., Fort Worth, near Arlington, Va., April 24, 1865," to his friend Henry C. Gingrich, in small part: "…what mighty events have transpired! Our country has…been completely revolutionized. We are not the same people-ours is not the same country. These dark clouds hung threateningly over us. The sun of peace…appeared totaling obscured-never…to shed its beaming influences over this land…people became impatient and even the loyal man and woman was led to exclaim'How Long. Oh, Lord how long!…I can congratulate you and all my loyal friends at the north on the sure hope of a speedy return of peace…with the fall of Richmond and Petersburg and the…achievement of the Army of the Potomac…the capitulation of Lee's rebel army of Northern Virginia…'the rebellion is played out. ' The war is virtually at an end…how hard then it seems that we were not permitted to continue our rejoicing…that in the midst of our exaltations…had to be visited by the most terrible calamity that ever befell those nation and the people so suddenly plunged into such deep sorrow…it is almost a wonder that the life of the nation did not ebb out with the life blood of the immortal Lincoln. But we stood the shock though a great and beloved chief was most fearfully assassinated…it was my melancholy privilege to attend the funeral on the 19th inst…t was grand and impressive and I shall never, never forget it…I can not give proper expression to the feelings of my heart in the short space…it is rumored…that Booth has been captured…in my return from the funeral I suddenly came upon General Grant standing alone near the War Dept. I had presence of mind enough to salute him and he very gracefully returned it…I am so proud of it…how long before I ever same the General. I am not of the opinion that the assassination of our late President will…retard the early establishment of peace. Had this occurred two or three months ago…the consequences might have been fearful…however, the Confederacy (so-called) is too completely dead to hope for anything like a resurrection. I thank God that Abraham Lincoln was permitted to live long enough to see how well he had done the work committed to his care. I am sorry Gen. Sherman…committed such a miserable blunder…to enter into an agreement with the Rebel Johnston for establishing peace. He has somewhat tarnished his fair fame by the act…it is an insult to Sherman's noble army. I cannot understand it The spirit in which this action was disapproved shows that we still have a government…to execute the wishes of the people…just before sealing my letter, I read an 'Extra' shish says Gen. Sherman is insane. This, then accounts for his inexplainable conduct. No one but an insane man or a traitor would act as he has done and I cant believe him guilty of treason…it is high time Grant gets down there. He'll settle matters. The paper says nothing about the capture of Booth and a young man of our Batty just from Washington heard nothing of it there…Cake." Light soiling, else VG
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