Beschreibung:

25 items, 1861-1864. The 50th New York Infantry was one of only a handful of Union regiments during the Civil War designated for the essential, but unglamorous work of military engineering. Working as sappers, miners, and pontooners, tending to the design and construction of bridges, roadways, and fortifications. Redesignated from an infantry regiment in December 1861, the 50th Engineers were the most famous unit of their kind during the war, serving with distinction in the Army of the Potomac throughout its great battles. They were noted particularly for their efficiency in laying bridges during the bloody spring campaigns of 1864 that enabled Grant’s army to maneuver under the direst conditions. This small collection includes ten letters to Pvt. (later Sgt.) Daniel Crane, one from him, and all but one war date, giving a sense of the range of correspondence that a typical soldier would have seen while in the service. The one letter written by Crane is addressed to Emma Sayre back home in Seneca Co. -- perhaps a sweetheart -- clearly reflects the unique position of the 50th Engineers. Crane describes watching a flooded river threatening a railroad bridge that was holding up prisoners of war from Kentucky: Emma what I think about the rebels the prospect looks brighter than it has but they are desperate. We hear that they are in a starving condition, perhaps there is some sections of country that are bad off but there is no doubt in my mind that they can raise their own living. They certainly have teritory enough...(Camp Carroll, Md., April 16, 1863). In return, Crane received a handful of letters from women, at home and otherwise. Perhaps not surprisingly, one of his correspondents was a woman who may have had romantic inclinations: the three letters written by Ann D. Tucker, a student at Sweet Spring Seminary, in Fairmount, W.Va., offer a slice of wartime life in western Virginia. On Dec. 11, 1863, she wrote: there has ben some new recruits went out I gess there will bee no draft hear. Six deserters come in camp last weake and give themselvs up. Thay was brot in town the next morning. I tell you Dan thay was hard looking fellas they said the south could not stand the war much longer. I hope thay can not... Three of the Railrod camp has been married sence you was hear one of them married miss Fleming. I hope you will not think I make to free writing to you...Tucker ends her letter with an interesting choice of poem: The Rose is Red / Jef Davis is Blue / If you don’t watch / He will whip you. Mrs. Daniel J. Trask of Enfield, Mass., a town now inundated under the Quabbin Reservoir, wrote as an agent of a woman’s soldier’s relief society: I think Enfield Ladies will feel considerably acquainted with their NY Boys, as there have been two returns from them, next door to mine, and I have not yet learned how many more. We feel quite interested, as when there is another call for Comfort Bags, I think we shall cheerfully respond... Crane also kept in touch with his brother, John, who was less than impressed with the men serving in his regiment: There are some most detestably mean fellows in our company and there are some just as fine men as the country can produce. Ben Winter is here in the Seneca falls company. He is a choice good boy. Some of the scallawags of our company go out and steal chickens and turkeys evenings. I hope they may get caught at it and punished as they deserve... I and five others have charge of our company table to day. I wish I could sketch you the room in which we eat you would see ten long tables with two rows of tin cups and plates knives forks salt dishes and pepper boxes at the west end is the cook room... The balance of the Crane collection consists of receipts, mostly war date (but not military), however there are two items worthy of particularly note: a handsome drawing in colored pencil of a cross-section of a rebel shell drawn by Crane near Petersburg, July 29, 1864, depicting the fuse, powder, and ball