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CIVIL WAR LETTER- BOWIE KNIFE TO COL FLETCHER WEBSTER
BOSTON WOMAN SENT 12TH MASS REGT COL A MEXICAN WAR KNIFE
Superb content in this early-war 1861 Civil War letter written to Colonel Fletcher Webster, the commanding officer of the 12th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. Col. Fletcher Webster was the eldest and sole-surviving son of the great New Hampshire orator Sen. Daniel Webster. On August 30, 1862, Fletcher Webster was mortally wounded leading his 12th Massachusetts infantry into battle at Second Manassas.
A Boston, MA woman named Octavia Gardiner Dupree wrote this 1-page letter in ink on white paper 5 x 8”. She was obviously filled with enthusiasm for Fletcher Webster’s role in raising his regiment for service in the brewing Civil War. She was deeply moved enough to send to the gallant Webster one of her own family heirlooms: A BOWIE KNIFE that “SERVED VALIANTLY AND PROVED OF THE TRUE METAL IN THE MEXICAN WAR IN WHICH YOUR LAMENTED BROTHER WAS A GALLANT OFFICER.” Fletcher Webster’s younger brother Edward Webster became a Major in the main division of the army, and died of disease at San Angelo in Mexico, in Taylor’s campaign of 1848.
Octavia Dupee’s letter is transcribed as follows:
“Boston, April 27, 1861
[I transcribe this date as 1861 partly owing to the early-war “feel” of the letter, but it could also conceivably read 1862—see scan]
Col. Webster
Will you please except this “Bowie Knife.”
It served valiantly and proved of “the true metal” in the Mexican War in which your lamented brother was a gallant officer.
Although we deeply deplore the necessity for this disastrous war, we pray with every true-hearted country woman, that LIBERTY AND RIGHT may prevail.
May posterity behold your name placed in triumph beside that of your illustrious father, as a “DEFENDER OF THE CONSTITUTION AND UNION.”
Trustingly and hopefully yours,
Octavia G. Dupee
693 Washington St.”
“The TWELFTH REGIMENT MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY also known as the "Webster Regiment", was recruited in the latter part of April, 1861, through the personal efforts of Fletcher Webster, son of the statesman, Daniel Webster.
Five companies were raised in Boston and one each in Abington, North Bridgewater, Gloucester, Stoughton, and Weymouth. In May 1862, it formed a part of Hartsuff's Brigade, Ricketts' Division, McDowell's (3d) Corps, Army of Virginia. With Ricketts' Division it reached the battlefield of Cedar Mountain, August 9, 1862, just at the close of the action and suffered several casualties by artillery fire.
At Second Bull Run, August 30, the 12th Regt. was heavily engaged near Bald Hill on the Chinn farm, losing its commander, Col. Webster, and 25 officers and men killed or mortally wounded.”
The inscription of the head stone of this gallant soldier who fell at the head of his regiment in the war of the rebellion reads:
"Colonel Fletcher Webster, 12th Massachusetts Volunteers, son of Daniel and Grace Fletcher Webster; born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 25th July, 1813; fell at the head of his regiment on the old battle-field of Bull Run, Virginia, August 30, 1862.
‘And if I am too old myself, I hope there are those connected with me who are young and willing to defend their country, to the last drop of their own blood.’
"Erected by officers of the 12tb regiment Massachusetts Infantry to the memory of their beloved colonel."
There is a penciled note by a descendent on the reverse (see scan). This letter is in quite good condition. It captures the patriotism that swept the Northern states in the early months of the Civil War.
Price= $795.00
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