2024-07 Raynors Historical Collectible Auctions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/13/2024
A war-date Union officer's somewhat derogatory letter, 4pp. 4to., written by Captain Richard W. Musgrove, Co. D, 1st United States Volunteer Infantry, Fort Ridgely, Minnesota, Dec. 7, 1864, reading, in part: "- this is a lonely, bleak, dissolute place - the little world in which I move here is about fifteen rods square and I seldom go outside of the fort unless it is a pleasant day - I am very glad that so many of the boys came home from the army to vote. I suppose you passed a few pleasant hours with them. Lieut. [John F.] Fullonton belongs to this regiment - but is on duty on Gen. Marston's staff - he is a tip top fellow and very smart too - I shall miss my brother Adam when I go home - because we were so near of an age - how many times we have talked over our futures, but he is now gone. He is now at rest and I would not call him back much as I feel his loss - I do not always expect to live in this out of the world place, but before many years - to return to the land of civilization - I have just been reading - a very beautiful piece of poetry - it goes as follows, 'De lord he knows de ni**er well, He knows de ni**er by the smell; and whilst de pitch holds out to burn, De blackest ni**er may return - when in de tabernacle met, Big ni**er by a white gal set; and in de Beecher chapel too, De ni**er habs a good front pew. De lord - in different pews he culled sheep, but mix de various collors up, like rum and lasses in a cup.' Don't you think those are beautiful lines? - your true friend, R. W. Musgrove." Musgrow first saw military duty as a member of Co. D, 12th New Hampshire Vols. moving through the ranks from corporal to first sergeant. At Chancellorsville he had a gun shot from his hands and another shattered; at Gettysburg he carried the regiment's state colors; and at Point Lookout prison camp in Maryland was in charge of over one thousand POWs. Discharged for promotion in 1st United States Volunteer Infantry, Musgrove served for a year in Minnesota beginning in 1864. In the fall, 1865 his company and three others helped open the Smokey Hill route of the Union Pacific railroad that ran from Kansas to Denver, Colorado with the company's last term of service being at Fort Wallace, Kansas. Overall VG.
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