Beschreibung:

A random group of five letters by different writers with information about Lincoln's funeral, the Greeley/Grant Campaign, a soldier in a N.Y. hospital writing about Lincoln's death, a letter from Joliet, Illinois to a 1860 Lincoln supporter and an 1864 letter concerning vote fixing. Letter from Joliet (IL), dated Oct. 21 and 28, 1860. Addressed to Miss S. J? Tiffany, Chatham, Tiago Co., PA. The recipient is addressed a couple of times by the writer as "Sade" (Sadie?), but the writer is uncertain. What is not uncertain are the political leanings of the sender. A number of times between personal topics, he or she just inserts lines such as "Lincoln is going to live in the White House" or "Lincoln is to be the next President," sometimes in very elaborate letters. They also describe the clubs: "Frank belongs to Young America Wide Awakes. He has his cap, cape, torch, &c." There is a company of 50 "Young America's". There is also a description of a Douglas speech and rally, after which the writer concludes: "...it is very necessary that he [Douglas] should run so as to give the drunken Catholic Irish a man to vote for." He mentions that many who went to the Douglas rally were "converted" to Lincoln supporters - maybe wishful thinking? Letter from Harrisburg, dated 28 Oct. 1864, addressed to "Annie" and signed "Horace." At one point Horace is trying to talk Annie into marrying him when he comes home for Christmas, but: "If you do not think it best, I can wait until my term of service expires." Nothing more is said about why he is there. Early in the letter he notes that he does not plan to vote in November. "I think that I shall not vote at all for if I should vote the Democrat ticket you would not like it at all & why should I vote for Old Abe. The name is enough to disgust me for I never liked the name of Abraham. Don't see why my folks named me that, but I suppose that old people don't consult young people about their names. ...I have been reading a piece in the news paper about some of the boys votes being changed while in the post-masters hands & a great many being forged. I think that one had better change mine for fear it will do them no good. I hope that whoever does such a thing may have to suffer for it. I don't care what side it is on for there is too much mischief done now days for the good name of our country." Another letter is from Buffalo General Hospital, dated April 17, 1865. To Mrs. Caroline Sanford of Thurston, Steuben Co., NY and signed D.D. Sanford. He reports that he is feeling better, and has straightened out the report that he is a deserter. His doctor just forgot to report that he was too ill to travel. With atrocious spelling, he reports: "We have aful nuse [awful news] of the deth of Pesident Lincoln. The holl sity of Buffalo Bisnes was supended. All Bisnes houses closed for the day. The stretes was draped and the flaggs at hafe mast. The holl country is in morning. The los is Grate and it semes hard when he was giting suctch good nuse from the Army and with such good pospects for pese he began to think the country safe and we shood soon come home to enjoy the fruts of our laber. But all at onse he who stood at the hed of the goverment is stricken down by som unone assason [some unknown assassin's] hand and the lose is ereparibel [loss is irreparable]. But I think that Mr. Johnson will make a good pesident and will hang more Rebs than Ole Abe had." A letter from Cuba, NY is dated April 19, 1865. Addressed to William Gordon, and just signed "Willie." Written in a cramped hand in light/faded ink, this is difficult to read. "Blanche and I attended the funeral services of the President at the Baptist church." All stores and businesses closed, and black drapes were put on signs and banners. He goes on to give information about the service, including the fact that a Mr. Stockton gave an interesting history of Lincoln's life. The last letter is on letterhead from the "Office of James Miller Bookseller, Publisher