Beschreibung:

9 letters, 9 orders (3 printed), 3 post-war photographs; 5 miscellaneous items. The brutal campaigns of the Civil War summer of 1864 took their toll on many New England regiments, not the least the 21st Massachusetts Infantry which was nearing the end of its three-year enlistment. Organized at Worcester during the late summer 1861, the 21st had already survived engagements in three theaters of war, from Burnside’s Carolina expedition to Pope’s Campaign in northern Virginia, 2nd Bull Run, and Antietam, where a monument to their courage stands near the Burnside Bridge. After several months in the west in 1863, the regiment returned to Virginia in April 1864 to take part in Grant’s summer campaigns, suffering so heavily in the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, North Anna River, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg that the survivors were consolidated into a battalion of just three companies for the last two months before mustering out during the late summer. This small collection centers on the eventful last months of service of Alfred F. Walcott, a man who rose from Private to Captain of Co. F in the 21st Massachusetts Infantry, and commemorates his association with some of the Union Army’s highest ranking brass and with the growth of “Colored” troops in the federal service. A 23 year-old native of Salem, Walcott was in Hong Kong when the war broke out, working with Heard and Co. in the China trade, and immediately sailed home to do his part for the nation. Within days of enlisting in December 1861, his leadership abilities were singled out with a promotion to Sergeant Major, and with Burnside in North Carolina, he was again recognized and assigned to serve as Aide de Camp on the staff of Gen. Edward Ferrero, who went on to fame as a commander of African American troops. In many ways, Ferrero and his one-time commanding officer Ambrose Burnside are the heart of this collection. The three war-date letters from Ferrero to Walcott (plus a fragment of a war-date letter with his flourishing signature) are true gems. Written just after Walcott mustered out of the service, Sept. 1, 1864, the first letter brings the former Aide de camp up to on the state of Ferrero’s Colored troops in the aftermath of the Weldon Railroad and infamous Petersburg Crater Explosion. My troops are in reserve, Ferrero wrote, and I have had a series of Reviews and Inspections for the past two days. The cavalry in my rear were driven in about an hour ago. I had my command out and regained the ground but the enemy are moving around us and I expect fun before many hours. My Division is increasing every day. We number nearly Four thousand muskets for duty... Although the Battle of Weldon Railroad was a painful end to a painful summer, Ferrero’s optimism was echoed by his AAG Capt. George A. Hicks, who described the battle itself on Aug. 26, 1864: The 5th Corps came up a few days before. They were attacked & just as they were nicely doubled up on their right, Wilcox & White arrived and saved the day. It has been quiet till yesterday when the 2d Corps (2 Divs of it) were attacked beyond Kearns Station and gained one of those victories peculiar to the Army of the Potomac, i.e., Lost nine Guns, & were driven back. The Enemy however were fearfully punished. About Twenty miles of the Weldon Road has been so destroyed that it will take new material to build it up.... The General and Staff are well. They are engaged in the usual pastime. The Generals luck is worse than ever. Warner sweeps the board. Your “Uncle Dudley’s” head is still above water. By the late fall, the much-reduced IX Corps was reorganized and Ferrero’s Division was reassigned to the all-colored XXV Corps. Having been given command at Bermuda Hundred, Ferrero wrote to Walcott on Dec. 1, 1864, referring to the troops he had come to respect: You will see by the heading of this that I have left the 9th Army Corps and am now attached to the Army of the James. I am defending the entire line between the two rivers, am very much