Raynors HCA 2017-12
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/7/2017
A man, safely tucked away in draft free Canada, writes four letters to his soldier brother, Corp. Moses F. Whittemore, Co. C, 51st Ohio Vols., concerning his harsh opinions on the war and his brother's fighting in helping end slavery in America Amos G. Whittemore writes from Orwell, Elgin County, Canada West and his letters, read, in very small part: "…[Orwell, Elgin County, Canada West, Mar. 19, 1863, 8pp. 8vo.]…I have not lost all of what I had by loving my neighbor…I have lost the greater part by buying building lots. Other men bought side by side who were what we call good calculations…politics…are the same here as in the states only they are out of danger yet they are secesh and Union as if they belonged to the States. As to the annihilation of slavery I agree with you & a large majority in Canada but it would foil the whole not to buy Union men's slaves. In connection with…politics & slavery you give…account of 500,000 men dead, ah dead. I think that 100,000 are at home, half runaways & the remainder sent home sick & wounded, etc…I had just sent a letter to my attorney…the money must be acknowledged and must be exchanged for current money before it become of no value. We are afraid that your new Conscription [Act] will fail, then States money would not be worth much. I have just received a letter stating that he could not get silver or gold or check on any bank and did not know how much or when only send soon…there has been much sickness & many more deaths…many young and some old people died with the Dysentery…on account of politics…there is a party who want to give the Roman Catholics of having separate schools and get [the] money from government which should be given to common schools…there is another [who] wants a rail way from Quebec to Halifax. Some oppose this because Canada is now in debt 70,000,000$…the last account I have of Joseph he is in West Charleston, Vermont preaching half the time in Vt & half in Canada…[Amos, 2pp. 4to., no date, Elgin County, Canada West]…I received your letter concerning the War…I have seen some bad aspects especially in N. Y. City. I hope the government will prove itself able to rule & that rebellion will soon come to nought & that the slaveholders and sympathizers will stand in their proper lot at the ned of the war and [that] the Nig. no will be as his quadroon master. There are 2 political praters in Canada. One is called the…the Reformer & the other is called the Corruptionists…the Corruptionists are in favor of the South and correspond to your dough faced Copperhead Democrats…the Czar has agreed to vie the Poles a national constitution…[Napoli, Canada West, Jan. 16, 1864]…there is little interest in any thing but our country, the war, abolition, Copperheads, draft etc..we hope for better times…the Copperheads [are] in trouble. They think slavery must die and the rebels whipped but they cant help themselves. They are very sick and must die…we must try to be reconciled to part with such reptiles…".
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