Raynors HCA 2020-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/27/2020
War-date Union soldier Autograph Letter Signed by Alexander McFarlain, 22nd New York Infantry, 4pp. octavo, on U.S. Capitol stationery, Arlington, September 2, 1861, and reads in part: "...About a week ago our company with Company A was out on a scouting part. One of Company A boys was shot in the leg by a rebel...Last week company E was out scouting, one of the boys was shot. Shot in the breast by a rebel....Day before yesterday our company was out to Balls Cross Roads. The rebels are all around there. They had a fine time barbecuing a horse out there a few days ago...By the aid of a glass from there, I could see the rebels building a fort about two miles from there. In the afternoon Professor Lowe came out with his balloon. He went up about as far as 30 yards. He was let up by the aid of ropes. The Rebels did not like to have him looking at them. He saw them and ordered the boys to draw him down. He had got about half way down when a rifled cannon ball came within ten rods of him. I reckon the old balloon went off down the road in double quick time. The boys all let go of the ropes but 3. If they had not let go the balloon would have went up. One of the balls struck within 5 rods of me. We could hear the balls coming some ways before they got to us. The boys found both of the balls the next morning..." Fine condition. In July 1861 Thaddeus Sobieski Constantine Lowe (1832-1913) was appointed Chief Aeronaut of the Union Army Balloon Corps by President Abraham Lincoln. Though his work was generally successful, it was not fully appreciated by all members of the military, and disputes over his operations and pay scale forced him to resign in 1863.
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