Americana & Decorative Arts from Estates & Collections Including the Estate of Toni Noble
Thu, Jun 22, 2023 10:00AM EDT
Live Auction
Lot 860
40 Civil War Letters Thomas B. Alston 2nd NJ .
Estimate: $300 - $600
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $200 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $1,000,000 | $50,000 |
A remarkable collection of 36 letters, spanning the dates November 1863 - March 1865. Alston writes to various family members, sometimes with not much to report, and other times with some amazing information. Sept. 14, 1863, he has not left Camp Parker in Trento, NJ yet and writes, "...Mother when I come home I am going to get Married to Sallie..." His travels take him into Ohio and Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, and Mississippi. In December, 1863 he is in Kentucky, mired in the rain and mud, and he writes,"we have got a colard [colored] regiment down here the darkeys make fine looking Soldiers. I expected that they would be very dirty but they are not they all look as clean as a new pin. I have not seen a dirty darky soldier yet, but we have plenty of dirty white ones." His last letter to his father (Dec. 10, '64) is is mainly focused on getting his new boots. As a P.S. he adds, " there is some talk of an expedition...you must not be worried." The next letter, dated Jan. 9, 1864[5] to his Mother, is penned by his friend, Sgt. Wm. H. Arndt, informing her that her son was wounded during the expedition. [probably before Christmas]. He tells her that it does not appear to be a bad wound, going through a blanket, a part of his saddle, and hitting him above his left hip. He left Alston in a medical tent with a flag of truce flying, and then he retreated, leaving them to the enemy. The final letter, dated March 3rd, informs his mother that he had written a while ago and was surprised she had not received his letter. Apparently some time in February, the Union Doctor treating the wounded was sent back by the Rebels, and Arndt was told that Alston's wound started to bleed internally and could not be stopped. He includes detailed directions to her son's grave, and other information he thought helpful. The entire collection (with some other documents and letters, is housed in a soft covered portfolio notebook with mylar sleeves. H 14-3/4" W 12-1/2". Copy and paste link for high-res images: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/i33zosaw36bkkqo/AAAMFrBum0EP-Wt_Z3y8zJLHa?dl=0
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