2024-01 Raynors Americana Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/20/2024
Autograph Letter Signed, "Samuel Tromor" , the Palmetto guards, 1pp. written to Gov. Pickens (South Carolina), Newark N.J. April 2, 1861. In full; "I have understood that you want about 1000 men to come down to South Carolina and join the army now stationed there. If such is the case, I would like to know as I have about 150 men under my command that have become disgusted with affairs here in New Jersey and would like to get out of the place as soon as possible. If our services would be acceptable, we shall come down to South Carolina and seek you out at once. I will give you an account of our proceedings here and how our company began to form. In the first place, Abe Lincoln's election was received by us with disgust. We immediately resolved to hold secret meetings here in Newark to see what we could do in regard to helping your Southern Brethren in case they should secede. The crisis has now come. If it is true that you need the services of our men, we shall come down to you at the first word that you send. As our organization has been kept secret for so long and we are afraid that we cannot do so any keep it so much longer, I would like for you to write at once telling me if it is the truth that I have heard, and if so, at what time we can start for to come to you-that is, if our services are wanted. We all believe that our Southern Brethren are right in the course they are pursuing. In writing, please address Samuel Tromore, Newark, New Jersey, and I will remain faithful to the last and remain forever your friend in the cause, - Samuel Tromore, Captain of the Palmetto guards". The letter is docket on reverse of letter reads: "Letter of Palmetto Guards of Newark, N. J. tendering their services, April 2d 1861. Then Pickens dockets with a note; "Col. [Franklin J.] Moses will answer directly and courteously declining to them as yet because we hope there may be no need for them, but thanking them for their patriotism.F.W.P. "(Pickens) Interesting speculation. So who could have written this letter? No doubt the secrecy with which these men conducted their meetings and communicated with each other would present a formidable challenge to answering this question. A search of the newspapers at the time resulted in one favorable clue, however. An article appearing in the Trenton State Gazette on 11 October 1861 under the heading, "Rebel Recruiting in Newark-Curious Letter" reveals the content of a letter signed by "J. B." who admits that, "I sign in cypher for fear of accident, as that would not pay just now." The letter contends that his "recruits" still stand ready to fight for the Confederacy but they are unwilling to do so without "six months' pay in advance." After publishing the entire transcript of the intercepted letter, the piece ends asking, "Can anybody tell us whether the 'twenty-eight' recruits referred to in this letter were members of the 'Palmetto Guard' of which the editor of the Newark Evening Journal-now the organ of the Breckinridge candidate for Mayor-was the captain?" This leads us to conclude it was generally understood by most New Jerseyites that Edward N. Fuller, editor of the Newark Evening Journal was the captain of the (by then) not-so-secret Palmetto Guards. It's interesting to note that the pre-Fort Sumter number of recruits-150-had fallen considerably in the 6 months that followed. By October 1861, hundreds of citizens had been thrown into jail for expressing pro-Southern sympathies or conducting suspicious treasonous activities. By examining the back of the letter, we notice that Gov. Pickens directed his clerk, Col. Frank Moses to respond negatively to the offer made by the New Jerseyites
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