Description

Description: These fourteen letters are written to Frederick Townsend, with various ranks, between April 13, 1861 and Oct 11, 1865. They address a variety of Civil War related issues, from recruitment of volunteers for the 18^th Infantry to requests and questions regarding jobs, appointments, or mustering; all showcase him as an earnest soldier, a caring commandant, and an approachable friend. We gather that he recommends several of his subordinates to well-suited positions.

S. Chomet writes about the “unparalleled excitement” regarding the recruitment of men and mentions “hundred men at work on a gun” in Albany, N.Y. (April 15, 1861); H.P. Hubbel declines with regret an offer of Townsend’s regiment (April 19, 1861); Henry Belknap asks forthright questions about recruiting the 18^thRegiment volunteer force (July 28, 1861); Philip Yates lodges a complaint with their former commander, Townsend, about the deductions for uniforms from the already impoverished Band’s paychecks (May 22, 1862); in his first letter R.H Sudington writes from the Inspector General’s Bureau in Washington about succeeding in his inspection of the establishment of Capt. Tompkins. He mentions an “ominous stillness . . . in regard to Army movement,” giving details about the troops ready for maneuvers (May 3, 1964); in his second letter, he writes sarcastically about the changes made to the rolls of the new company without notice to the mustering officers: “I suggested mildly, that officers might feel aggrieved at being blamed for making bricks without straw, but Maj. B. was undisturbed.” He adds that “very many re-enforcements (20,000 beside Sigel’s force) have gone to Grant. It appears to me the result must be in our favor” (May 18, 1864); C. A. Seward significantly asks if “a decision was made upon the right of Staff Officers, holding over after their Chief had resigned. . .” (Oct 11, 1865). The other letters include a note of congratulations on the Major’s wedding, regret over a position of paymaster for which the writer feels unsuited, gratitude from the wife of a soldier who got sent the wrong valise, and a question about the delivery of Townsend’s horse.

The letters are written on varied sizes of white ruled and un-ruled paper no larger than 8”x10.” Item #AM00301

Col. Frederick Townsend (1825-1897) founded the 3^rd New York Infantry Regiment and served with the US Army 18^th and 9^th Infantry Regiments. He also served three terms as the Adjutant General of New York from 1857-61 and in 1880.

Condition: Three letters have some dampstaining, but generally they are quite legible and in good condition.