Virginia Loyalist-Refugee Archive

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/28/2006

Henry M. Bowden was a famed Williamsburg, Virginia resident and refugee, driven out by the Confederates in 1862, and would help run the famous Eastern Lunatic Hospital in Williamsburg. This sixteen (16) item archive, includes: Autograph Letter Signed by Henry Bowden, 4p. folio, Norfolk, Virginia, October 4, 1865, addressed to General O.O. Howard, and reads in part:" ...on the 20th day of August 1862 I was brought from Williamsburg, Va by the Government forces who were there evacuating the peninsular on my arrival with my family at Fortress Monroe there being no place for me or my large family to shelter ourselves from the rain that was then falling. I with my family was [?] by the Government to this city and the house I now occupy being vacant and the owners being the Rebel lines I was given possession of it and continued in the house for a short time when it was also occupied by my brother the late Hon L. Bowden who died in Washington Jany 1863 whilst Genl. Vile was in command of this place...When the president visited this city last spring, he being then vice president, I was the first man who was a citizen of this state who took the pleasure to call upon him, about a month ago at the request of various true Union men and destitute Union females I was prevailed on to visit Washington to have an interview with the President on subjects affecting the Union people of this state.. After various efforts to see him and after the efforts not only of my self but of distinguished men ...had failed I was compelled to return home as my pecuniary means like that of every other Union Man in this section of the state would not admit my remaining longer. I have lost more than any man in this State in proportion to my property and I belong to a family which has seen more persecution than any other I have heard of. My wife was the first female ever ejected from an office solely on account of my & her unionism. I had always been a slave owner until this Rebellion and when driven from home I brought all my slaves in the Federal lines that they might not suffer persecution for my principal. They nor any one of my family have never received a ration from the Government...Thank God though I have used every exertion in my power to sustain the Government and the Restored Government of Virginia..." Fine....plus; Autograph Letter Signed by General Ord, 1p. octavo, March 1, 1865, addressed to Bowden and inquiring if he would like to be a clerk at the Head Quarters, Department of Virginia, Army of the James. Fine...plus; Oath of Allegiance for Henry Bowden, Norfolk, Virginia, December 12, 1863, Fine....plus; Autograph Letter Signed, "W. Clinton Thompson" 3p. quarto, Indianapolis, March 3, 1866, addressed to Bowden and reads in part: "...the story of your troubles deeply afflicts me. Well I know the Onimus of your enemies towards you. Well I know what it cost you to be Union in your feelings to the government and when I read from your letter your flight from your home to the place you now occupy...I can hardly control my feelings. To see happy independent families driven from their property, and home comforts and domestic peace made dependants on the military power of the country, for the protection of their lives, by the insane desire fro change and Revolution in what is well enough, I confess my weakness betrays me into cursing instead of blessing. them that this destroying power should be put into Authority over you to carry on a system of persecution, for all time against you, is an idea so preposterous so inhuman, that I stand amazed at the effort that would accomplish it. I hope and believe that God our eternal and just creator will interpose his providence to prevent the scheme. The sympathies of the great mass of the Northern people are with you. They would love to see Virginia in the Union tomorrow, provided she is brought in by the hands of her loyal citizens, but if she has to come back by the hands of the men who broke up her government and who have literally destroyed her union men and today are trying to drive them from the state, then we say let her never come back. The effort of those poor unprincipled creatures of Williamsburg to dishonor and wrong you I expected You may rest satisfied I shall take very great pleasure in communicating to you any information in my power respecting the Asylum...I have one son who has gone to Mexico to fight for the liberal cause....I was elected to the state Senate from Indianapolis district and have served 2 sessions in the Legislature….plus; ALS by his daughter, Williamsburg, April 3, 1864, in part: "...The old place is very much changed a great many of the old houses have been pulled down, which makes the old place look very badly. Very few of the old citizens are here. I have seen a great many of them they seemed to be glad to see me, and treat me very politely...The officers are so different here to what they are in Norfolk, they do all they can for the Union people and dont care about anybody else. They have made several scouts out in the surrounding country, sometimes bringing in a few Rebels..." Fine...plus; Autograph Letter Signed, "Henry M. Bowden" 3p. quarto, Norfolk, Virginia, March 9, 1864, addressed to Secretary of the Treasury Chase, and reads in part: "...As you are doubtless aware I have been compelled to abandon my home and property and take up my residence in this city, and have been here remaining since the evacuation of the Peninsula by McClellan. I have a large family dependent upon me for support. I have no other means of providing for them, but the labor of my hands or head...The office of clerk of court before the war was a profitable one, but now owing to the unsettled state of our civil affairs there is but a small amount of litigation in the civil courts..." Fine...plus; Autograph Letter Signed, "Henry M. Bowden" 2p. folio, Norfolk, Virginia, August 4, 1864, addressed to Major General Benjamin Butler, in part: "...I have been a resident of this city for about two years. I am a refugee from my home in James City County. I have been exiled thereupon by the vicissitudes of War. My stock and crops and personal property, were taken for the use of the Army of the Potomac during the advance on Richmond by Genl. McClellan. I have never received any compensation from the Government for my losses...I have been a consistent and uncompromising loyalist, and have suffered on account of my devotion to the cause. I have never received any assistance from the Federal authorities, and would not now ask it, if necessity did not require it..." Fine....plus; Manuscript accounting sheets of articles given to the United states by Henry M. Bowden in May 1862, including horses, mules, carriage, and food. Fine....plus; Manuscript Special Orders, August 10, 1864, issued from the Field by command of Major General Butler, appointing Henry M. Bowden as Financial clerk. Fine.

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