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1865 CIVIL WAR ALS COL THOMAS M WALKER 111TH PA REGIMENT UNION AUTOGRAPHED LETTER SIGNED, GREAT CONTENT
Brig. Gen Thomas Thomas McCormick Walker Commanded the 111th Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment, a famous, fighting unit, throughout the Civil War. He was Brevetted Brigadier General on 5 July 1865 for "meritorious service," and mustered out 19 July 1865.
On 1 June 1865, Colonel Walker wrote his mother this long 6-page ALS in ink on lined white paper, 7.5 x 9.5”. The letter has wonderful content about his service-in & feelings-on the war. He describes his Regiment marching from Raleigh, NC (fighting with Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman) to Richmond, VA. Walker describes, “TREATING THE COUNTRY & PEOPLE LIKE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES. IT WAS A GREAT CHANGE TO US FROM BEING THE GREAT DESTROYERS TO BE THE PRESERVERS OF PROPERTY.”
He sums up his wartime experiences with thoughts on the Southland & the Southern population (not complementary).
Walker then describes the march of his Regiment from Richmond to Washington DC. Of special interest are his comments about passing through the scenes of the battlefields of Chancellorsville, Spotsylvania Courthouse, & the Wilderness: “THE CONTESTANTS OF BOTH SIDES YET LAY WHERE THEY FELL. I SAW SO MANY GHASTLY SIGHTS THEN . . . INSTEAD OF THE MANY FAMILIAR FACES THAT I REMEMBERED THEN, I WAS CALLED TO LOOK UPON THE WHITE SKULLS AND BONES THAT ARE SCATTERED OVER THE GROUND. I WAS GLAD TO GET AWAY FROM THESE SCENES, AND TO KNOW THAT THIS TERRIBLE WORK WAS OVER.”
Walker continues his letter by describing the day of the GRAND REVIEW held for the troops in Washington DC: “THE THOUSANDS OF SMILING FACES AND FLUTTERING FLAGS AND FANS.”
Thomas McCormick Walker of Pennsylvania entered the service as Major, 111th Pennsylvania Infantry, on 23 December 1861. His Colonel and Lt Colonel both out sick, he led the Regiment at Cedar Mountain (9 August 1862). He was still in command at Antietam, where he was wounded, and where the regiment won special honors for valorous action. Walker was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel shortly after the battle (7 November), and was again in command of the regiment at Gettysburg (July 1863). At Gettysburg, Walker fought in the Second Brigade of Geary's "White Star" Division. The 111th PA defended their ground on Culp's Hill with courage, devotion and skill. Walker was again wounded in action near Chattanooga, TN, in October 1863, but returned to lead the Regiment in November in the assault on Lookout Mountain. Led by Walker, The 111th Pennsylvania Regiment joined Sherman’s Army of the Cumberland through the entire Atlanta campaign, taking part in many battles and skirmishes, including Resaca, New Hope Church, Dallas, Peachtree Creek, Kennesaw Mountain and the Siege of Atlanta. When Atlanta fell on 2 September 1864, Walker led the first Federal troops into the City. The Regiment under Walker joined Sherman in his March to the sea from November 15-December 10, participated in the Siege of Savannah December 10-21, and fought through the Campaign of the Carolinas from January to April, 1865. It participated in the Battle of Bentonville, N. C., March 19-21, the advance on & occupation of Raleigh April 9-14, and finally the surrender of Gen. Joseph Johnston and his army.
The 111th PA is considered one of the war’s "300 fighting regiments’" Walker was appointed Colonel of the 111th on 23 April 1865 and brevetted Brig. Gen. 5 July 1865 for "meritorious service." He mustered out 19 July 1865. He was elected Erie County (PA) Sheriff in 1871.
A full transcription of Walker’s letter follows:
“Headquarters 111th Regiment Pennsylvania Vet. Volunteers
Near Bladensburg
June 1st 1865
My Dear Mother
Since we arrived here I have received letters from you, and one today from Morris. When I begin to look over my accounts I must acknowledge indebtedness to Sister Hennie, to Erskin and Mr. Carson as well as yourself. Though when I address you I am in a manner in communication with all, yet I shall some day endeavor to fill all my engagements of correspondence with them. Yet for a time while grounded with as much as I now have on hand, I must ask their indulgence.
I have not written I think since I left Raleigh. It has been a long time, and if note is taken of the great events that have transpired since then it is a very great while. We marched with a good deal of haste as far as Richmond treating the country and people as citizens of the United States. It was a great change to us from being the great destroyers to be the preservers of property. We saw some good country from Raleigh to Richmond but I think not as much in comparison as one would see through any like number of miles in the North. As fine a country as I have seen in all of our great walks over the South is that immediately to the North of Richmond, and within a distance of ten miles from the City.
After my journey is over I sum up my Southern Experiences in no very flattering terms to the Country or its people. I cannot but despise a people who have the effrontery to claim that they are the Chivalry of the land, yet descend to be the Hucksters of Lemonade and small cakes to those who were coercing them, as I have seen the elite, the Cream of the Cities of Savannah and Richmond do. These people have always been entitled to the privilege of starving to death, as we who have not boasted would have preferred.
After leaving Richmond, we marched at more leisure, but soon struck the country that last year was at the scene of the great wilderness fights. I looked over the ground at Spotsylvania Court House. The contestants of both sides yet lay where they fell. I saw so many ghastly sights then. Those over whom a little scrap of earth had been thrown were about as visible as the poor fellows who were left just as and where they fell. The same afternoon I walked over the historical ground of Chancellorsville. With this ground I was acquainted, but instead of the many familiar faces that I remembered then, I was called to look upon the white skulls and bones that are scattered over the ground. I was glad to get away from these scenes, and to know that this terrible work was over. We arrived near Washington just in time for the Grand Review of the Armies. I saw Mr. Carson on Review Day, near the main stand. I also saw Mr. Henson who informed me Mr. Carson was staying near the corner of 4 1/2 street, but in the crowd I was unable to find him, though I left the column as soon as I could to do so. Mom’s letter today tells me that Hennie was also in the city. I did not see her, or if I did, amid the thousands of smiling faces and fluttering flags and fans, I could not recognize her. I suspected that you were all there, and hoped to see you.
Mine is not among the Regiments that are now ordered to be mustered out, though we think we will not be detained long. I am anxious to don the uniform of a civilian again. My friends at home are asking for me to come, but I do not like to leave now until I can go with my regiment. Father, in a very suggestive way, intimates that nothing short of an affectionate wife will avail to win one from the roughness of four years of such association, and make the quietness of civil life one of contentment. I am disposed to fall in with his advice and only ask to fall in with such a person as either of my mothers to induce me to use every endeavor to win her.
My Sister Kate, Mrs. Davenport has promised me to come to Washington to see some of our Military displays if I can notify her in time to reach here. I am very anxious that you shall see each other, for I know each will be delighted with the other. Kate in her note says to my invitation to come, that she and her husband are disposed to accept, for it is a sight they can never again expect to witness, and that when they return they can stop in Baltimore and take Mrs. Carson home with them to enjoy the delightful summer breezes from the from the lakes. I will be so pleased if I could be relieved from my military duties and have you at our home at least a part of the summer. You remember I have a partial promise in Morris’ case.
I shall endeavor to be in Baltimore for forty-eight hours next week. I think I will have no difficulty in doing so unless we receive unexpected orders in the mean time.
I intend to call upon Miss Maggie Houston when I go to the city.
Remember me with love to all,
Your son,
Thomas M. Walker
Mrs. M. C. Carson No. 227 Madison Ave, Baltimore
A little wear and some stains (also one chip and a few small tears) along fold lines of the paper, especially the last sheet. Otherwise quite good condition as shown in scan.
This is a letter with excellent content written by the commanding officer of one of the finest fighting Union Regiments in the Civil War.
Price= $795.00
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