2020-07 2 sessions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/23/2020
War-date letter, 6pp. 8vo., written, on official "U. S. Christian Commission" stationery, by U.S. Christian Commission Agent William Van Wagenen, "College Green Barracks, Annapolis, Md., March 27, 1865," to his mother, reads, in part: "…spending Saturday afternoon in visiting hospitals, holding meetings in some of the noisiest barracks…had a regular Methodist protracted meeting. They made a great deal of noise & at the close…said that a member had been converted. I however am rather skeptical in that point. I liked my barrack meeting very much. The men after the first noise are subdued-were very quiet & attentive…to Annapolis…visiting the hospitals & seeing the returned prisoners who were-most of them-dying from starvation & exposure while in rebel hands. I also went to the Provost Marshal's headquarters & held services with the prisoners. They were in prison on all kinds of charges-light & grave. Some were in chains, some had a ball and chain fastened to their feet and some were free…made a prayer…then I distributed papers etc…talked to them individually…we had preaching in the U. S. C. C. Chapel…at College Green Barracks…this morning…two hundred prisoners came. There were 1400 in all…10 or 15 of them will probably die…Annapolis is, of course, a secesh town. The churches were nearly broken up by the war…there is but one other delegate here with me…Willie." Th original "U. S. Christian Commission" transmittal cover is included. Overall VG.
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