Manuscript Civil War Sewing Machine Request – Sergeant Hugh H. Griswold

Description

Manuscript Civil War Sewing Machine Request – Sergeant Hugh H. Griswold
Offered for your consideration is an interesting Civil War era letter relating to the purchase of a sewing machine (business goes on, even in war). Headlined “
2
nd
Div Ambulance Corps, 9
th
Army Corps
” and addressed to “
Messrs Singer & Co
”, the body of the letter states “
Wishing to purchase a sewing machine, I write to you to get your Pamphlet and price list. My Friends live in
Vermont
and wishing to make them a present I think I will purchase a
sewing
machine
.
”. He then posits “
now if I send you the money by Express, I want to know if you will send them the machine that I order, and pay the Freight, which I will pay you, as I do not wish it to be any expense to them …
”. Apparently, the writer has not made up his mind, and being a man, is not really sure of what to order, so he asks
“… which machine do you think the best for me there is but three in the family, and do not have a great quanty sewing to do I have been thinking about the .00 …
” (at the time of writing, the author was making about .00 a month). He closes the request by stating “
P. S. Direct thus / Sergt Hugh H Griswold / 2
nd
Div Ambulance Corps / 9
th
Army Corps / Washington DC
”. This missive is penned in period ink on white paper (an embossed seal featuring what looks like the Capitol and “
O & H
” appears at the upper left). Though undated, the military rank and unit indicate that this piece was written either during or immediately after the Civil War (Griswold’s unit was mustered out in Washington, D. C. in July, 1865). An unusual letter, showing as it does, that business still continues during wartime. It is possible that Sergeant Griswold saw an advertisement in one of the illustrated newspapers of the era such as Harper’s Weekly, and decided that a sewing machine would make a great gift, especially if his time at the front was over. An interesting addition to any Civil War era letter collection, or possibly paired with an advertisement of the period. Unusual.
Cursory research indicates that
Hugh H. Griswold
was 19 years old and living in Waterbury, Vermont (another source says West Fairlee, Vermont) when he enlisted on August 25, 1862. He was mustered in as a corporal into Company I, 13
th
Vermont Infantry on October 10, 1862, and mustered out at Brattleboro, Vermont on July 21, 1863. He was subsequently mustered in as a sergeant into Company E, 17
th
Vermont Infantry, serving until mustered out on July 14, 1865 at Washington, District of Columbia. Hugh Griswold died on January 26, 1887 at Waterbury Center, Vermont.
The 13
th
Vermont Infantry was a nine months’ regiment, serving from October, 1862 through August, 1863. They were engaged principally in picket and guard duty in the vicinity of Washington and northern Virginia, until called upon to form part of the rear guard of the Army of the Potomac as it marched north after Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. They arrived on the battlefield of Gettysburg after dark on July 1, 1863, and the following day assisted in the saving of an artillery battery. Their primary service occurred on July 3, 1863, when they joined in a flank attack on part of the forces participating in Pickett’s Charge. During its term of service, the 13
th
Vermont had 20 officers and men killed or mortally wounded and 53 officers and men who died of disease.
The 17
th
Vermont Infantry served in the IX Corps of the Army of the Potomac from March, 1864 through July, 1865. They were engaged in, or present at, virtually all of the major battles in the eastern theater from the outset of the Overland Campaign through the final surrender of the Confederate Army, including the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and Hatcher’s Run. The regiment was mustered out on July 14, 1865. During its term of service, the 17
th
Vermont had 133 officers and men killed or mortally wounded and 57 officers and men who died of disease.
The presently offered letter exhibits signs of period use, followed by 150+ years of storage. Toning is present across the entire surface, significantly darker at the top and along the left edge. Two horizontal folds are present, slightly weakening the paper, though no tears or separations are present at this time. The left edge is slightly ragged, seemingly torn from a larger sheet. The writing is lighter is some areas, though whether this is due to fading or poor quality ink (this is still a wartime situation) is not known to the seller. Measuring approximately 5⅛ x 7⅞ inches, this piece would make an interesting addition to a Civil War or sewing related collection.
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If you have any questions regarding this item, please ask before purchasing.
Buy or Bid with Confidence – American Coins & Collectibles President Richie Self has worked 6 years as a paper money grader/authenticator. He has contributed to numerous reference books within the industry, as well as being a co-author of “The Comprehensive Catalog and History of Confederate Bonds, 2
nd
Edition” with Douglas B. Ball, Ph.D., Henry F. Simmons, M.D., Ph.D. and James R. Desabaye. Mr. Self is a life member of the American Numismatic Association, the Society of Paper Money Collectors, as well as numerous regional numismatic associations. He is an authorized submitter to NGC, PCGS, and PMG, a diamond founding member of Coin Dealers Helping Coin Dealers and a supporter of the Industry Council for Tangible Assets. American Coins and Collectibles can be found at many of the state and local coin shows.
American Coins and Collectibles
Shreveport, LA