2023-03 HCA Auctions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/7/2023
Twelve page letter by Cornelius VanHouten ,"CVH", who mustered into "Batty B" Co. NJ 1st Light Artillery and re-enlisted on 12/11/1863. Datelined Fort Warren Va., August 25, 1864. In small part: "I can not stop where we can not have peace, but it's time enough to talk about that. ... the rebels are just as firm as they ever were ... They say they will not give up if every house in the South is burned and every rail is torn ... they can get all they want by get up a small party and go make a raid on our store houses .. then tell Jeff Davis to come and get things ... and sure as our generals see him coming across the Potomac, they fire a few blanks at him and then surrender. .... For command 40,000 men and about 20,000 nxxxxrs. I will fix it so you can catch all my nxxxxrs and about half of the whites and if you cant kill nearly half of them you are good for nothing. You know I expect a good situation after you have gained the Confederacy. ... The only thing I feel sorry for is that so many good and loyal men are killed every day by the fraud and money making generals. If I can see straight "Old Abe the Butcher" will not promote a good loyal private but if he can find a man that will kill a white man and lift a nxxxxr to glory ..., For the North, the war is played out. ... a great many of the people are against this administration. I hope they will put that Old Rail Splitter in the first sink they can find. He is the man that has killed . more good men than this US can ever boast of again. ... He thinks too much of the Nxxxxr. ... I have no more faith in AL. He desires nothing but the advancement of the nxxxxr and to fill his pockets. ... I say I must have more liquor if I am to fight for nxxxxrs and AL or I will leave the first chance for parts unknown. .... You say the Abe Lincoln is bound to enforce the law against traitors. ... Why don't he catch and hang these men all over Washington. There are thousands of men around Washington that he knows are not loyal ... that you would be doing a great sin if you should vote for Abe this fall. ... We have seen enough of the nxxxxxrs for there was a brigade of them in here when we came. They are the biggest cowards I ever saw ...."
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