Beschreibung:

Lot of 28 war-date letters, including 19 while studying at Ohio University, and 4 partially coded letters written while he traveled to Bradford, Ontario, Canada to avoid the draft. The remaining letters were written from either Spencer's Boat or another location. The letters are primarily from 1863 until 1865. New York and Canada’s populations swelled after President Lincoln called for five national drafts from July 1863 until April 1865. According to historian Peter Levine, the drafts required 776,829 Union men to enlist, but only 46,347 actually served (Levine, The Journal of American History Vol. 67 No. 4 March 1981, “Draft Evasion in the North during the Civil War, 1863-1865”, p. 816). Men could legally avoid enlisting if they paid a commutation fee, but many families could not afford it. As a result, men either followed orders or ran. Over 160,000 men, including Henry H. Hannan, became “illegal draft evaders by choice and deserters by law” (Levine, 817). Even though they lived in pro-Union territory, the Hannans of Gallia, Ohio were ardent secessionists. Instead of enlisting for either side, Henry H. Hannan chose to attend school at Ohio University. Henry H. enjoyed his time at college and wrote his mother often about his studies and college life. He barely mentioned the war until he was drafted in the Union Army in 1863, and called for duty in the winter of 1864. Unwilling to risk his life for a cause he did not support, Henry shirked his duty and planned to escape. His brother, Frank (legal name William Franklin) did the same when they called his name. The brothers conspired to flee after a family wedding. Although they departed from the same place, they did not travel the same course. After the wedding, an unidentified person wrote to Henry’s mother, Frank went down, do not know what his fate is to be yet, he says he will neither take the oath nor wear blue breeches…(October 16, 1864). While Frank traveled down, Henry H. fled up, towards Canada. From safe refuge Henry H. wrote his sister in code. I arrived here safely last Thursday but terribly tired and shall stay here until I hear from home through you (Safe Refuge, October 8, 1864). After more than a week of waiting, he was determined to leave for Pittsburgh. I feel that I have done wrong in staying here so long drafted men went from Roane Co. to dixie last week, he wrote. If I can get through safely you will hear from me soon and often (October 16, 1864). Henry H. kept his promise and wrote to his sister once he reached his Eden—Bradford, Ontario. You really can imagine my feelings when I first set foot on Canadian soil. I could have almost kissed the ground, so much was I relieved. I came through without a scratch, except an extra large hole in my pocket…it will be almost a matter of impossibility to get work…the large towns and cities are overflowing with skedadlers a great many have gone back to the states to work—there is a stream coming and going all the time (Bradford, C.W., October 23, 1864). Although he managed to reach Canada unharmed, the journey was not without risk. While traveling on a steamer, Henry met an officer who grew up close to Gallia and almost recognized him. The valiant captain suspitioned(?) me immediately, watched me as close as a hawk and I soon found he was found to know more about it presently he came up to me and began to question, he wrote in code. Thankfully, he spun a convincing story: I told him my name was Henderson just from Virginia, had no relations in Ohio except the Hannans who were cousins [I] asked him if he knew them, what were their politics &c. then he began, said he knew them, thought I was Henry, they were secessionists, strong and bitter. Frank and Henry were drafted he ran off and was seen crop the river at Gallipolis, that was the last he heard of him (Bradford, C.W., October 23, 1864). After the war ended, Henry and his brother returned to Gallia. Henry married and raised a family. He worked as a grocer as well as