2005-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2005
Document and letter group pertaining to Assistant Surgeon Henry F. McSherry of Martinsburg, Virginia, who sided with the Union and stayed in the navy when war broke out between the North and South. Grouping includes thirty-one (31) letters addressed to him mostly from family who were living in Martinsburg during the war, some of these have fantastic content concerning the war and local news. Also included in this group is a Navy Department commission issued to McSherry July 2, 1860, a poem dedicated to fallen Confederate soldier brothers named Holmes Addison Conrad and Henry Tucker Conrad who 'fell in the battle of Manassas July 21, 1861, standing side by side. At the same instant, both, mortally wounded.", and a telegraph from his father dated May 17, 1861, which simply states "Do not resign. R McSherry." The letters read in part: "…[Martinsburg 11/2/1860] Mr. Russell expected a good office if Breckenridge is elected…Mr. Moore said that the South had borne almost enough and ought not take more…Pa says he thinks he is influenced by Mr. Russell and it is the policy of southern politicians to talk so to scare the North so that they will be afraid to go farther for fear the South really will resort to extreme measures…Holmes Conrad…was over this morning after we came to see sister Eliza…[11/21/1860]the southerners all seem in a state of great excitement…I think the insult given a few years ago by the laws passed in Mass. and some of those northern states nullifying the fugitive slave laws was more of a cause for secession than the election of Lincoln. Here all the calm people say they have no fears of his administration, they think him a Conservative man, not an abolitionist….[Littlestown 12/4/1860]We are still undecided about leaving here. We would not like much to be in a separate Confederacy from the rest, to be at open war, with our dearest friends. Brother says I must have a passport when I go to visit them again. I do not wonder that the officers who have families particularly those from the South object to leaving them. I think I saw that South Carolina had called on all the officers in the Army & Navy from there to resign, it will be such a pity I think, so many ties will have to be broken….When you wrote first from New York that Mr. Toney thought the Union would not last till the 4th of March, I thought it impossible. I did not think it could be done in such a short time, that they would wait at least till Mr. Lincoln gave them some cause to complain, tho' almost every one I heard speak of it, thought he could not do any harm, as Congress was against him. I think he said Mr. Lincoln was a very clever man and would try to conciliate the south & could not do any harm if he wished, so we did not feel so uneasy. South Carolina has acted rashly, it is only a beginning of troubles I am afraid…[from brother 5/16/1861 Martinsburg]We saw today a notice of the arrival of the Vandalia at New York. I do not wish you to leave your post or resign your commission in the U.S. Service. You are a noncombatant and I hope this dreadful war will be brought to a close without the effusion of blood…Virginia is not yet out of the Union and may not be. The vote is to be taken next Thursday…[from brother, Baltimore, May 16, 1861]Hold on to your commission if you wish to remain in the navy. Berkley County is still for Union and will cast her vote for Union. We had a letter from Martinsburg this morning, they are all very much dejected there on account of the war….Maryland is very divided in her political status, and although the feelings of the people incline her to go with Virginia, I do not think it certain that she would leave the Union…Virginia is bristling for fight against the general government but there is still so much suppressed Union sentiment in the state that she might be reclaimed by a tender of the olive branch on the part of the government. You will soon learn how refractory Baltimore has been recently, several officers of the Navy resigned during the excitement, but various of them have since applied to be reinstated. So don't be hasty….Dick is in the Md. Guards, and is somewhat infected with the Virginia fever, some hundred, or perhaps hundreds of the young men having gone to Richmond of that body but I think we will be able to keep him back….[from brother 5/20/61, Martinsburg] Dr. Conrad reached this place on Saturday, he refused to take the new oath and was dismissed and had some difficulty in leaving Boston. The border guards at Harpers Ferry. Holmes left his school and joined them. We have a company of cavalry here from Augusta county. I believe there at least twelve thousand troops at Harpers Ferry and in Jefferson and this county, and Harpers Ferry is well fortified with heavy guns. This county will vote against the secession ordinance, but I have no doubt the vote of the whole state will go largely for it…Mr. R. has just returned from Richmond he says there will be a hundred thousand armed soldiers in Va before the end of the month…[5/29/61, Martinsburg]the railroad co. must meet with great losses now. I doubt whether they will recover for sometime. Two bridges between Cumberland and Wheeling have been burnt….Holmes Conrad has been very sick at Harpers Ferry. He wrote he had been a week at the infirmary there. Dr. McGuire is the chief of the Medical Corps there. When Genl. Harper from Augusta was in command there they had so many majors and captains and Cols and staff officers that there was nothing but confusion and some whiskey too…Col. Jackson effected a reformation and sent Cols of the dignitaries to the ranks…Mr. Hoge gave us an account of a dinner at Col. Jacksons head quarters, the soldiers rations,, coffee, salt, in a blue cup, butter in a blue saucer and other things in the same style….[6/1/61] I thought you might perhaps be of some service to Chas so I write you a few lines on the subject. He was with Maj. Sibley's command which were taken prisoners at Indianola. He is now on his way or perhaps has arrived at new York in the Brig. 'Mystic'. He will I think be rather unprepared for the state of affairs at present, & if you could see him might be able to give him some counsel. Father thinks he should not resign. I wont say what I think on the subject lest this letter should by chance fall into the hands of some of the 'Tribune' or 'Express People' & then no one knows how soon I might be arrested, & the Habeas Corpus would not do me any more good than it has done Mr. Merryman. Three vessels were employed to bring the troops in from Texas. The Urbana, Horace & Mystic…When these troops were taken they were released on condition they would swear not to take up arms against the South. I hear tho, that such oaths are not to be regarded by the Lincoln administration. I think Charles might consult with Dr. Horner & his Uncle Wm. The former is a 'Union' man as they call it, the latter is a Southern rights man. So between the two, with your experience & that of your medical friend from Winchester, & his one conscience & honor to guide him. I think he may be able to do what is right…[7/24/61] Holmes & Tucker fell side by side at Manassas. Poor boys both gone and another very dear to you, Peyton Harrison…Holmes was like your brother, and you loved Mr. Harrison and Tucker so well. It was on Sunday, Holmes was shot by a bullet through the heart, Tucker who was near to him was in a few minutes wounded mortally by the bursting of a shell and lived but five minutes. Poor Holmes died instantly. Mr. Harrison was not by them but near, it was at three o'clock in the evening that he was struck, he lived a quarter of an hour…[no date] Anna has no doubt given you the sad news from home, the deaths of Holmes & Tucker Conrad, who were killed within a few minutes of each other at Manassas, and of Peyton Harrison, on the same day. This is a terrible blow to us all, for it strikes our nearest friends. There is nothing of desolation and misery to come of this horrible war. Poor old Martinsburg has already been crushed by it….You have of course learned from the papers the defeat of the Federal Troops at Manassas. They might as well give it up, the South will never be conquered…[1/9/64 Martinsburg] Pa is still kept very busy but he looks well…He seems very cheerful and I think is making up his mind to enjoy the Federal occupation, he likes Col. Rogers and seems to get along very well with them all….Capt. Blackford was killed a few days ago. I believe in a skirmish…[Harrisburg, Pa 1/19/64] It is rumored today that the Governor is going to adjourn the Legisalture for sixty or ninety days with the expectation of succeeding in that time in having Major White who is a member of the Senate and a prisoner in Libby, released or exchanged….[7/12/64 Martinsburg]the F's left town just before the C's came in, they rushed by here about three o'clock in the evening. One of the foremost was Winchester Holmes Conrad…they left they say a perfect mountain of corn and oats 4 million pounds the C. Quartermaster said. Genl Breckenridge's son was wounded but not severly as they came in…Gen. Gordon, Genl Perry and [?] and Breckenridge too I believe rode in together…they had skirmishers before they came in but few shots were fired after…Genl. Gordon stayed at Mrs. Nanties, Rob was with him on his staff…Capt. Rankins of the 38th Georgia left here for Winchester with wagons of captured things…They told Mr. Hoge she need not pretend to be Southern…'Where is your son ld lady' My son is down at Richmond said Mrs. Hoge 'Yes with Grant' they were walking around by the light of candle ends they obtained from the people they round up. They were not clear of the town when the F. forces came in Monday morning…Col. Rogers is here in command of the post. Gen. Sullivan has command of the troops here….[10/20/64] Sheridan has a Corp full….There was a capture last night of Gen. [?] and his escort as there were enroute to Winchester, quite an alarm followed in Martinsburg…[5/1/65] his observations of the surrender. One I remember was when Genl Lee offered Grant his sword Gen. Grant with a profound gravity and low said 'No Genl. I could not think of receive (or accept I forget which) the sword of one so greatly my superior. Gen. Lee said 'Genl in your great modesty you do yourself injustice'…I feel as sorry for Sherman as for Johnson…" From Good to Fine….plus; Partly-printed Document Signed, 12p. folio, being a "Return of Medicines, Stores, Furniture, Instruments, & c. received, expended, and remaining on hand on board U.S.S. 'Dacotah' for the term ending on the 8th day of July, 1864." with note next to whiskey that reads "The lock by which this was secured was forced by the crew & a large portion of the whiskey stolen…" Signed as received by McSherry, at Beaufort, North Carolina. Good…plus; Retained copy Autograph Letter Signed, "Henry McSherry," 1p. folio, U.S. Naval Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, April 4, 1864, addressed to Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles, and reads "I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of 3rd March, informing me of my appointment as Surgeon in the Navy, on the Active list, from the 22nd September 1863, and inclosing my commission dated 26th February 1864…." VG. A wonderful West Virginia grouping.
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