2005-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2005
A good war-date Union officer's, 2pp. 4to., letter written in pencil by Lt. David W. Low, Co. G, 8th Mass. Vols., Bellevue Gardens, Baltimore, Md., June 28th, 1861 to his wife concerning their movements in and about Baltimore and of the arrest Baltimore's City Marshall George P. Kane, reading, in part: "…yesterday the right wing of the 8th & the whole of the 6th was ordered to be ready in half an hour with two days rations to go…we were told that a train was waiting for us. We marched down to the train. The Regt divided into 10 Companies. I had command of the tenth. The train took us to the suburbs of Baltimore…we marched out on a plain near the depot where we laid on our arms all night…next morning our Cooks made some coffee and with our hard bread we made quite a good breakfast. After which we formed line & marched up to…part of the…Gardens…yesterday Marshall Kane was arrested and the City placed under Martial Law we expected something…before morning but the City was very quiet. This morning some excitement was occasioned by a large seizure of ammunition muskets, cartridges of all kinds…found between the walls & underneath the Ex-Marshall's office…Kegs of Ammunition & the boxes were directed to Kane from Harpers Ferry also a Cannon ball fired from Fort Sumpter directed to him "with the compliments" of a distinguished secessionist. Enough has been found to prove without doubt his being leagued with the traitors…the officers today having found out, that Jones has no control over the 8th here we being under Col. [Abel] Smith of the 13th [New York State Militia]…we pass the guard by Col. [Edward] Hincks [future brig. gen.] orders…". Kane was arrested along with Mayor Brown, and several city councilmen in an effort to squeal pro-southern resistance at Federal occupation of Baltimore. Low served throughout the Civil War during the three distinct organizations of the 8th Massachusetts Infantry and rose to major by the end of his military career. Light toning, else very good.
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