MUSEUM QUALITY
AMERICANA
COMMEMORATING THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CIVIL WAR WITH
THE FINEST ORIGINAL SOLDIER'S LETTERS AND ARTIFACTS
This 4 page letter dated April 18th, 1865 from Richmond, Virginia is in nice dark ink was written by Sergt. Howard Taylor of Company C of the 12th New Hampshire. He was a resident of New Hampton, New Hampshire. Taylor enlisted at age 18 and was promoted Sergeant on June of 1864. He was wounded three times – at Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and Bermuda Hundred! There are many great “lines” in this letter – very patriotic and talks about the Lincoln assassination!
· “After fighting so long we have at last succeeded in taking Richmond. I was on picket at the · “We entered the city at 8 o’clock proceeded only by 2 companies of cavalry. A greater part of the · “The white portion of the inhabitants looked upon us with sullen looks but the colored part · “What glorious news we have been having, the capture of Richmond the Rebel capital and the · “But while we have been receiving such good news the nation is suddenly thrown in mourning by · “The war is nearly closed and we shall soon be enjoying the blessings of peace once more after 4
time the advance was made so that I was in the very front line. We moved about daylight on the
morning of April 3rd and advanced towards the Rebel works. We marched into the rebel works
without opposition as the Rebels had evacuated them the night before. We advanced as a skirmish
line for about a mile and a half when we formed by the right flank and went at the double quick
the rest of the way so we should be the first to enter the city.”
business portion of the city was in flames and a great deal of property was destroyed before it
could be arrested.”
welcomed us with every demonstration of joy. The union feeling is beginning to develop slowly
in Richmond. When the Rebels left they told the inhabitants that we should treat them very bad
but they say now that they like the “Yankees” better then their own soldiers.”
surrender of Genl. Lee and the best Rebel army.”
the death of that great and good man, Abraham Lincoln. It makes my blood boil in my veins to
think of it. He was murdered in such a brutal manner. In the death of Abraham Lincoln the nation
both north and south has lost its best friend.”
years of the bloodiest war ever known in the history of the world.”
The 12th New Hampshire was a hard-fought unit and young Howard Taylor does a great job of summing up the significant of this fascinating Civil War!
#L202 - Price $195 I received your last letter in due season and was very happy to hear After fighting so long we have at last succeeded in taking Richmond. brutal manner. In the death of Abraham Lincoln the nation both north and Howard Taylor
Transcription:
Richmond, Va. Apr. 18th/65
Dear Friend Abbie,
from you after so long a time. Your letters are always very acceptable and
I should be very much pleased if I could hear from you oftener.
I was on picket at the time the advance was made so that I was in the very
front line. We moved about daylight on the morning of April 3rd and
advanced towards the Rebel works. We marched into the rebel works
without opposition as the Rebels had evacuated them the night before. We
advanced as a skirmish line for about a mile and a half when we formed by
the right flank and went at the double quick the rest of the way so we should
be the first to enter the city. We entered the city at 8 o’clock proceeded only
by 2 companies of cavalry. A greater part of the business portion of the city
was in flames and a great deal of property was destroyed before it could be
arrested. The white portion of the inhabitants looked upon us with sullen
looks but the colored part welcomed us with every demonstration of joy.
The union feeling is beginning to develop slowly in Richmond. When the
Rebels left they told the inhabitants that we should treat them very bad but
they say now that they like the “Yankees” better then their own soldiers.
What glorious news we have been having, the capture of Richmond the
Rebel capital and the surrender of Genl. Lee and the best Rebel army. But
while we have been receiving such good news the nation is suddenly thrown
in mourning by the death of that great and good man, Abraham Lincoln. It
makes my blood boil in my veins to think of it. He was murdered in such a
south has lost its best friend. The war is nearly closed and we shall soon be
enjoying the blessings of peace once more after 4 years of the bloodiest war
ever known in the history of the world.
You wrote for my picture. I will send you mine immediately on the
receipt of yours. I have given mine to several persons with the promise of
theirs but have never received them so I feel somewhat reluctant to let mine
go unless I am sure of receiving one in return.
Please write soon to your ever true friend.
