Raynors HCA 2019-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/26/2019
A long account of a Vicksburg newspaper editor's escape from the sunny South with his wife and two barefooted children, 8pp. 8vo., written by Hattie W. Taylor, West Meriden, [CT], May 12, 1863, to her soldier husband, reading, in very small part: "…God only knows how hard it was for me to let you go, but when duty calls for great sacrifice, personal feelings must be laid aside…I would tell you something of Mr. Montgomery…he was formerly editor of the Vicksburg Whig, was in that city at the time of its bombardment…he heard Jeff Davis say, "He had no fear of war…for the Yankee knew too well the difference between ninety nine cents and a dollar…the rebels have every available man in the field from 16 to 60 years…their supplies are nearly exhausted…he has seen a whole company 0of rebel soldiers…dressed in pants made of damask curtains…if Mr. Lincoln would enforce the emancipation proclamation as…he does the blockade the rebellion would be crushed out at once. He is Southern born…and a slaveholder, but he says liberate the slaves. There are many Union men in the South…I pity them…how he escaped…a transport came down to Vicksburg bringing rebel prisoners to exchange…some came to his office for rebel newspapers and upon…inquiring for our papers was directed to the boat…and at last made up his mind to come north…with his wife and two children…they took him and sentence him to be shot…his friends did all in their power to help him…an officer came with the order to release…he went home…packed their trunks and…started for Memphis…they did not have a pass to go further…the adjutant met him with the news…to arrest him…[at] the hotel his wife made up a small bundle and they started…under a burning hot sun…his wife had on…nothing but some miserable slippers…his children were both barefooted…a man carried them about 8 miles and they walked the rest…the children crying…for the sand burned their feet-at night…he was obliged to…bath the children's feet …in the morning…their feet were so sore they…could scarily walk…"Freddy why don't you keep up with Papa'. Oh…I cant my feet are sore…a rebel mail carrier…agreed ton take the wife and children…passed through both lines of pickets…his wife was 2 1/2 hours ahead of him…he sat down…and fell asleep…he came to a little bridge…two men with double barrel shot guns stood…at either end…so he began talking secession…and they let him go…at last he came to the hotel in Holly Springs where he found his wife…it was intensely interesting to hear him relate it…he said the people of Connecticut were a living miracle to him…Hattie W. T. Taylor". With stamped cover addressed, in full: "Mr. Charles L. Taylor, Co. K, 16th Regiment Conn. Vol., Washington, D. C." Overall VG to near fine.
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