A Group of Two Letters with a signed Pass by Col. Hinks, & CDV for 1st Lieutenant David W. Low, 8th Massachusetts Infantry In the Baltimore Area Shortly after the Riots

A Group of Three (two letters  and one pass signed by the colonel), & CDV for 1st Lieutenant David W. Low, 8th Massachusetts Infantry. David Low was from Gloucester, Mass and enlisted into Company “G” 8th Massachusetts Infantry in April 30, 1861, shortly after President Lincoln’s call for 75,000 volunteers to defend the Capital. He enlisted a two other times, all in the 8th Mass, for 9 months, and 100 days each.

This first enlistment with the 3 month regiment, followed a few other regiments from the state to the Washington / Baltimore area where these three pieces were written. To backtrack some, the 6th Mass Infantry was the first regiment to answer Lincoln’s call, but first had to brave the secessionist riots on the morning of April 19, 1861.  It was here the first casualties of the Civil War occurred; 4 men of the 6th died from that day through Baltimore.

The 8th Mass were assigned to various location throughout that region, arriving first at Annapolis were two companies were placed on the USS Constitution until she was removed to New York. Other companies did duty at Fort McHenry, Baltimore, and later at the Relay House south of the city. In early July the whole regiment were sent to Baltimore, under the new  colonel Edward W. Hinks.

The first letter was written on June 19th, from Camp Essex, Ell Ridge, Md.  Addressed to “Partner,” this 4 plus page letter goes into describing his aches and pains, drilling morning and evenings at the double time. His company was issued 13 cartridges to each man when leaving Boston on June 17th, paper cartridges that were made during the War of 1812, and soon replaced with new ones. They fired 13 volleys on the 17th in the memory of Bunker Hill.  Later that day formed the the 6th Mass in a battalion review for General Morse & staff. Called to Col. Hink’s tent for a speech, “Soldiers of the 8th Regt.we have met together for a flag raising…the stars and stripes were run up, the regt. signing the Star Spangled Banner, after which three rousing cheers wer given for the flag of our Country and the regt….marched off for two hour drill.

The pass is signed by colonel Hinks, written from HQ and Camp Essex, near the Relay House; Low was granted leave for 24 hours to go to Washington.

July 5, Camp Chase, Baltimore, talk of meals, hearty meal at that. Walked to North Point where the 19th Penn. was camped with a battery of 4 guns belonging to Boston.  Colonel called him, (he has been acting as commissary), ordered him is issue one loaf of bread for the men’s haversacks along with three days rations; they marched 4 miles to board the Steamer Hugh Jenkins, headed down the Patapsco River, Chesepeake Bay where they arrived at 8 o’clock in the morning, met with Capt. Deveraux and Capt Martains companies, the two companies surrounded a house and later arrested Mr. Tiglman and daughter, a rabid secessionist, his daughter 18 year old, throw her out of the window when she presented a revolver and said she would shoot the first man that dared arrest her father but came to terms….Tiglman was commissioned  some time ago Capt of a Cavalry Co and had some 200 arms, which he refused to give up…he had been a terror to all the Union men in the vicinity…the Deputy Marshall from Baltimore (they had replace the city police), would not eat with him at a breakfast for fear of poisoning. T was loaded on another Steamer “Our Boys” much more to the days events concerning their mission.  They hired a band from Manchester, NH for the rest of their time in service before mustering out.  Major Poor said today when he presented the regiment with two marker flags and a storm flag from the Ladies of Essex County, principally form Lynn….  These letters have more good detail in them, this just the covering the better content.

The CDV of Low is signed at the bottom of the mat, “Yours Respectfully D.W. Low Co. G 8th Regt. Ma.”  It was taken by W.A. Elwell, Gloucester, Mass.  The mat has been trimmed and a small corner of the the image is torn away some time ago in the upper left corner. Came in a new mat and identified, from the Collection of Gil Barrett.

Three historical pieces, written in the early war period prior to the first clash of armies at the 1st Bull Run.

Comes with typed transcripts.