Raynors HCA 2019-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/26/2019
An unusual war-date account of Abraham Lincoln reviewing his troops in the defenses of Washington, 4pp. 8vo., written by Pvt. Lewis Sheppard, 11th New York Light Artillery (Havelock Battery), "Camp Sturgis", [Near Fort Ward, District of Columbia, defenses of Washington], August 5, 1862, to his brother reading, in part: "…we ha d a great review here yesterday by the President here where…there is as much as 2000 acres of smooth prairie land…we were out & in order at 3…& at 2/3 o'clock the old Rail Spittler made his appearance. Then Fort Ward fired a salute of 31 guns & the troops began to shoot & such a racket you never heard. It made the chills run down my back & my hair stand up on end…(Old Abe) he was dressed like some old table cloth peddler, an old alpaca loose coat, a two story stove pipe [hat], black pants that reached just below the knees…he rode an old skeleton of a horse without any stirrups…& when he rode he locked his toes under the horse. When he wanted to dismount he stretched his legs down & drove the horse from under him. When he got in front of the battalion…the boys were shouting so he jerked off his old tarpaulin in front like some little urchin going into the school room. It was so warm…he sweated so that the starch was taken out of his shirt collar on one side & it lopped down over his shoulder…the other one stood up to his ear…his daughter & wife was here likewise. [Jokingly, he goes on.] I went & shook hands with his daughter & asked her how she did. She said…very well only she was pining away because I did not come over & see her oftener. I told her how the Capt. would not sign my pass…excuse this language but the fact of it is I have been so long from society that I don't know how to speak, act or write…your brother, Lewis Shep." Light soiling, else VG
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