Washington, Georgia, 1841–1844 

(Said to be Slave Related) 

Scarce pair of antebellum legal documents written and signed by future Confederate Secretary of State and Brigadier General Robert A. Toombs while practicing law in Washington, Georgia. One document is a legal account rendered by the law firm of Toombs & Reece to Daniel Crawford, executor of the Estate of John McNiel, for proving and forwarding legal papers in a Wilkes Superior Court matter, dated August 1844. The second is an earlier manuscript note dated January 10, 1841, containing references to information received regarding an estate matter (said to have been regarding slaves due to the other materials that previously accompanied this lot and the pencil inscriptions within the margins). The account is receipted and signed by Toombs & Reece, Attorneys at Law. These documents originate from the formative years of Toombs’ legal career, decades before his rise to national prominence as a United States Senator, the Confederacy’s first Secretary of State, and a Confederate Brigadier General. Original antebellum Robert Toombs legal manuscripts are seldom encountered and represent tangible relics of one of the most important political figures of the Old South and Confederacy. 

Inventory Number: DOC 436 

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Americans! we have a country vast in extent, and blessed with all the privileges and enjoyments possessed by any country on the globe. There is no country on earth, I verily believe, that presents such picturesque and romantic scenery as ours. There is but one Niagara in its broad circumference, and then its glorious rivers, from the tumbling cataracts of high northern latitudes, to the calm and beautiful Susquehannah, the placid Chenango, the Majestic Mississippi, and the golden waters of the Missouri. And then look at our lakes; vast enough to be called inland seas, and in which dwells the shining trout and the delicious white fish. And our forests with trees of every cast and hue, and if seen in the frosts of Autumn, presents a view beyond the powers of pencil to paint. And more than this, there are alive with songsters of every note and feather; from the majestic eagle down to the little ground sparrow. Again look at our vast prairies, the still solitude where man feels as if he really were alone with the wild and almost unapproachable Indian. Then look at its noisy cities, where men crowd and rush, as if the spot of earth on which they were their only spot. We see towns and villages springing up, as it were in the wilderness; but soon those little villages, vying with those of Europe and other countries, become large cities, to be called the Londons of the great western world. Talk not then of Europe as the only land worth a journey over; its past we have reason to admire there is sublimity in it; but who dare set the bounds of our country; who will pretend to say what it will yet be; sublime is but a feeble word for the destiny that awaits it. What nation presents such a spectacle as ours; having so many laws, so complicated and varied and yet moving so harmoniously. We do not have any of those troubles which cause so much war and discord in Europe and other foreign countries. 

And while other countries are ruled and governed by Kings or Sovereigns, whose word is law, and who are at liberty to put to death whosoever may disobey; we are free to do and act as we please; and to speak just what we think on any occasion. We may go within the walls of the capitol at Washington, and there, under the star-spangled banner, we see the Representatives of thirty-one states, all of which are in a thriving condition, sending daily supplies of good to foreign countries. To whom are we indebted for all these blessings; this question is easily answered; to him who sailed across the stormy ocean, under many difficulties, who underwent all the privations and hardships possible for man to endure, and finally succeeded in his enterprise; from that time to this we can all see how busy has been the spirit of improvement. Besides being indebted to Columbus, we are also indebted to Washington for preserving our country from the ruling power of the Kings of England. It is right that we should honor that great and good man; it is right that we should be proud of him; no other country produced such a man as Washington, nor do I believe there ever will be a man who will manage our government as he managed it. We should be proud therefore, that this our country was his birth place. But there is another, to whom we owe a greater debt than to Washington and Columbus both; that is God: he has ordained all things; and if it had not been his will, this country would have remained in its savage and unenlightened state; and it was his will, or we could not be what we now are; a free and enlightened people. 

Inventory Number: DOC 434

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Scarce and evocative antebellum or Civil War era anti-slavery cardstock broadside titled “The Negro Slave,” featuring a hand-colored woodcut illustration depicting the brutal realities of enslavement. The powerful image shows an enslaved family under threat of the lash, accompanied by a deeply emotional abolitionist poem condemning the cruelty and human suffering of slavery. Printed on thin cardstock rather than standard paper, the piece was likely intended for distribution as a moral or political tract during the turbulent decades leading into the Civil War.

The text speaks directly to family separation, forced labor, and the violence of bondage, themes central to abolitionist literature of the 1840s-1860s. Such pieces were often circulated by anti-slavery societies, reform groups, or religious organizations to influence public opinion in the years immediately preceding emancipation.

Condition is very good overall, retaining strong legibility and attractive original color to the illustration. Honest age toning, scattered spotting, and edge wear consistent with period handling. An evocative and increasingly scarce survivor from one of the most important social and political struggles in American history, displaying exceptionally well and carrying undeniable emotional impact. 3″x4″

 NEGRO SLAVE

AH! wretched captive, who a heart would own

That did not mourn thy shackled limbs to see?

To hear thy heartfelt grief, thy bitter moan,

Forced from thy home and all that’s dear to thee?

My fancy paints thee, ere the white man came, And drove thee from thy cot with fire and sword;

How vigorous then thy now enfeebled frame!

Alas! reduced by cruelties unheard.

I see thy happy face, as waking morn

Renewed the toils a mother loves to share, Thy prattling infants then, knew not to mourn, Bereft the kindness of a parent’s care.

I see thee now, whilst anguish wrings thy heart;

I hear the shriek, despair can not withhold;

Alas! ’tis vain-thou and thy babe must part,

No pity moves the heart that thirsts for gold.

Sons of the land which wealth and freedom boast

Have fixed thy lot, and doom’d thee for a slave;

To toil beneath the driver’s cruel lash,

Till thy frail limbs seek refuge in the grave.

Inventory Number: DOC 429

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A beautiful and well-preserved Civil War era writing pen set housed in its original fitted presentation case and bearing the desirable retailer marking “Mabie Todd & Co. New York.” Mabie Todd & Co. would become one of the most recognized names in fine writing instruments during the 19th century, and examples of their early American retailed pieces remain highly sought after today.

The pen features an elegant white mother-of-pearl handle paired with a finely crafted gold nib section, creating a refined appearance typical of quality Victorian-era writing instruments. The original fitted case remains intact and displays attractively with a dark textured exterior and rich purple velvet-lined interior.

The interior case lid is clearly marked in gold lettering:

“MABIE TODD & CO. NEW YORK”

The pen itself is additionally marked “MABIE TODD & CO No 1,” further enhancing its collector appeal. Personal writing accessories such as this would have been commonly carried and used by officers, clerks, merchants, attorneys, and educated civilians during the Civil War era.

An exceptionally attractive display piece with strong eye appeal, combining both historical charm and elegant period craftsmanship. A fine addition to any Civil War, writing instrument, or Victorian personal artifact collection.

Inventory Number: PER 484

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Lone Mountain, Georgia

June the 25th/64

123 N.Y.

Dear Companion

…We are still fighting the rebs. Our breastworks and theirs are close together. We can see the rebs in our breastworks. They can shoot with their muskets at our breastworks and so can our boys to theirs. Nathan Wartenby of our company was killed yesterday from the rebel works. He was a brother to Stewart. He was setting down about in the rear of our works and was shot in the head and killed instantly…The rebs seem determined to stand us a fight here. They hold the mountain and it is a hard place to take if we have to charge it. There will be many a poor fellow that will fall, but my prayer is that it won’t be…I hope that this campaign will soon end. This is fifty days and there has been skirmishing every day and some of the time hard fighting…Our skirmishers keep up a pretty brisk fire this morning. The rebel balls whistled pretty brisk over our line, yet they dont come very close as we are under the brow of a hill and they have to shoot over the hill and they cant get their musket balls down on us….I would much rather be at home with you…I am pretty dirty. They dont give us any soap…I will have to close. Good bye loved one. Direct to Fulton, Georgia as that is the closest. Kiss the children for me.

From “You Know Ho”

Henry

The 123rd New York Volunteer Infantry—known as the “Washington County Regiment”—served with the 20th Corps in the Army of the Cumberland during the Atlanta Campaign of 1864. By June 1864 the regiment was deeply engaged in the grinding operations against Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston’s defensive positions around Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia.

The letter here, dated June 25, 1864 from “Lone Mountain, Georgia,” was written during one of the most dangerous phases of the campaign. “Lone Mountain” was a contemporary soldier reference to the rugged terrain near Lost Mountain and the Kennesaw line west of Marietta. Union and Confederate forces were entrenched at extremely close range, exactly as described in the letter. Soldiers often fought from opposing breastworks separated by only a short distance, with constant sharpshooting and skirmishing throughout the day.

The 123rd New York had already endured hard campaigning through Tennessee and northern Georgia before reaching these lines. During the Atlanta Campaign, the regiment participated in operations at Resaca, Cassville, New Hope Church, Pine Mountain, Golgotha Church, and the Kennesaw Mountain sector. By late June, the men were exhausted from nearly two months of continuous marching, digging entrenchments, and near-daily combat. The writer’s statement that “This is fifty days and there has been skirmishing every day and some of the time hard fighting” accurately reflects the brutal reality of Sherman’s advance toward Atlanta.

On June 25–27, Union forces probed and pressured the Confederate mountain defenses in preparation for the major assault at Kennesaw Mountain on June 27, 1864. The terrain was notoriously difficult. Confederates occupied elevated ridges and mountain slopes protected by artillery and fortified trenches. Federal troops advancing against those heights faced deadly fire, which explains the writer’s fear that “many a poor fellow” would fall if ordered to charge the position.

The mention of Nathan Wartenby being killed while behind the works illustrates another grim reality of the campaign: soldiers were vulnerable even in supposedly protected positions. Sharpshooters and random musket fire constantly swept the lines, and casualties occurred daily from men exposing themselves above the parapets or simply being unlucky enough to be struck by a stray ball.

The 123rd New York remained with Sherman through the fall of Atlanta and later marched in Sherman’s Carolinas Campaign. The regiment was mustered out in June 1865 after nearly three years of hard service. Today, letters such as this are prized for their vivid first-person descriptions of trench warfare in the Atlanta Campaign—combat that increasingly foreshadowed the static, entrenched warfare later seen on a massive scale during World War I.

Inventory Number: DOC 425

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To the Voters of the First Congressional District — New Hampshire, February 6, 1865 

A scarce and visually striking Civil War political handbill issued in Dover, New Hampshire, calling for a “People’s Convention” amid the final months of the war. Printed in bold, confident typography with a large, attention-commanding header, the piece reflects the urgency and intensity of wartime politics, where loyalty, corruption, and representation were matters of immediate consequence.

The broadside is a forceful denunciation of the nomination of Congressman Gilman Marston, accusing his supporters of manipulating caucus delegates and employing money and political intrigue to secure his candidacy. What elevates this example beyond routine campaign ephemera is the tone—deeply moralistic and almost sermon-like—invoking liberty, virtue, and the responsibilities of “Freemen” in preserving republican government. The language reflects the ideological fractures even within Union-supporting communities late in the war, where dissatisfaction with party machinery and patronage had become pronounced.

Dated February 6, 1865, and calling for a convention on Washington’s Birthday, February 22, the handbill captures a moment when the war’s outcome was increasingly certain, yet political control of Reconstruction and governance remained contested. Its appeal to multiple counties—Strafford, Rockingham, Carroll, and Belknap—anchors it firmly in New Hampshire’s First Congressional District.

Survival of such ephemeral material is uncommon, particularly in complete form. This example retains strong eye appeal, with bold, legible type, period folds, and minor staining consistent with age and handling. The large format and dramatic headline typography would have made it highly visible when originally posted or distributed.

An excellent and rare piece of Civil War political history, illustrating the sharp internal divisions, rhetorical fervor, and democratic tensions present even within the Union states at the war’s close.

Inventory Number: DOC 417

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Chambersburg, Pennsylvania – October 3, 1860

A compelling and highly displayable pre–Civil War political grouping consisting of an original handwritten letter, matching addressed envelope, and printed Republican ticket issued in Chambersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, just weeks before the pivotal 1860 election.

The letter, dated October 3rd, 1860, is penned by George W. Toms, candidate for Register and Recorder, and addressed to a local voter, Mr. Geo. Desaro. In a direct and personal appeal, Toms encloses Republican ballots bearing his name and politely requests their distribution—an excellent period example of grassroots political campaigning. The tone is courteous yet purposeful, reflecting the importance of local influence in antebellum elections.

Accompanying the letter is the original envelope, neatly addressed in period hand, as well as the printed Republican ticket listing notable candidates including Andrew G. Curtin for Governor and Edward McPherson for Congress—both significant figures in Pennsylvania’s wartime leadership. Curtin would go on to serve as Pennsylvania’s “War Governor,” making this ticket particularly desirable for its immediate pre-war context.

The survival of all three components together—the solicitation letter, envelope, and corresponding ticket—creates a cohesive and evocative snapshot of political organization on the eve of the Civil War. The paper exhibits expected light handling and minor staining consistent with age, but remains in very good, sound condition with strong legibility throughout.

An excellent and uncommon Pennsylvania political grouping tied directly to the critical election of 1860, offering both historical significance and strong display appeal.

Chambersburg

Oct 3rd 1860

Mr. Geo. Desaro

Dear Sir,

As you have the kindness to agree to vote for me I take the liberty of sending you some Republican Tickets with my name on, which if you will distribute for me or at least some of them I will consider myself under many obligations to you. I should on opportunity ever present itself to reciprocate your favor & shall be glad to avail myself of it.

Very Respectfully

Yours &c

Geo. W. Toms

Envelope:

Mr. Geo. Desaro

Chambersburg

Franklin Co. Pa

Printed Ticket:

For Governor,

Andrew G. Curtin.

For Congress,

Edward M’Pherson.

For Assembly,

James R. Brewster,

James C. Austin.

For Prothonotary,

Abraham D. Caufman.

For Register and Recorder,

George W. Toms.

For Clerk of the Courts,

William G. Mitchell.

For County Commissioner

James D. Scott.

For Director of the Poor,

John L. Latshaw.

For County Auditor,

George Jarrett.

 Inventory Number: DOC 415

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A very rare “target sheet” recorded from a test of a Hotchkiss cannon and patent projectile. This is a printed form on polished cotton paper with blank fields and results done in ink. Sheet measures 9” x 13”.

This sheet represents the results of a trial held at Sharon, Connecticut, on July 26th 1860. Fifteen shots were fired and the results are plotted on this sheet.

Condition of the sheet is near perfect .

The “SKETCH OF TARGET AFTER PRACTICE WITH HOTCHKISS RIFLED CANNON, PAXENY PROCLE [Patent Projectile] at Sharan [Sharon], Conn July 26, 1860″ is a rare, historically significant, printed target sheet that documented the results of early trials for Andrew Hotchkiss’s patent artillery projectiles.

This document and the related tests highlight the critical early manufacturing efforts of Benjamin B. Hotchkiss and Andrew Hotchkiss in Sharon Valley, Connecticut, just prior to the American Civil War.

Inventory Number: DOC 423

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November 29, 1825 

A scarce and visually striking early 19th-century Virginia militia commission appointing a Second Lieutenant in a troop of cavalry, issued under the authority of Governor Thomas Mann Randolph, Jr. (1768–1828), notably the son-in-law of Thomas Jefferson. Printed on period laid paper with manuscript insertions, the document retains its bold typographic header, formal legal language, and original gubernatorial signature. 

Despite evident period wear—losses along the margins and center folds—the document preserves its essential presentation, including the embossed paper seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia, still crisply struck and affixed at lower left. The survival of this seal significantly enhances both display and historical integrity. The ducument is seperated t folds bur displays well.

The raised paper seal is a clear impression of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Great Seal, depicting Virtus—the Roman personification of virtue—standing over a fallen tyrant, symbolizing the triumph of liberty over oppression. Encircling the device is the state name, and beneath appears the enduring Revolutionary motto, “Sic Semper Tyrannis” (“Thus Always to Tyrants”). This example is a strong, well-struck blind embossing, retaining sharp detail and depth, an increasingly scarce feature as such seals are often found worn flat or entirely absent. 

The commission reflects Virginia’s post-War of 1812 militia structure, governed by consolidated militia acts intended to standardize organization and officer appointment across the Commonwealth. 

Inventory Number: DOC 416 

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Dated New Bern, North Carolina, May 20, 1863 

A scarce and highly evocative wartime document acknowledging receipt of a “Stand of Colors” furnished by the Committee on National Affairs of the New York City Common Council—an official civic body deeply involved in equipping and supporting New York regiments early in the war. The colors were shipped via Adams Express, a primary wartime carrier for military goods, underscoring the formal and logistical chain behind the issuance. 

The document is signed at New Bern, North Carolina, a key Union-occupied coastal base following Burnside’s 1862 expedition. By May 1863, New Bern functioned as a critical staging and supply hub for operations along the North Carolina coast, making it entirely consistent as the point of receipt for newly issued regimental colors. 

The unit referenced—the 1st New York Marine Artillery—was part of the somewhat unique class of New York “Marine” or “Naval” artillery units raised for service with coastal expeditions and amphibious operations. These troops were often attached to or operated in conjunction with the U.S. Navy, manning boat howitzers and light artillery in littoral campaigns. Their service was closely tied to operations in the Department of North Carolina and the broader Atlantic seaboard war effort. 

Colonel Wm. H. Brown (as signed) appears here as the receiving officer, formally acknowledging the delivery of the regiment’s colors—an object of profound symbolic and practical importance. Regimental colors were not merely decorative; they served as rallying points in battle, embodiments of unit identity, and markers of honor. That this receipt survives provides a rare administrative link in the life cycle of a Civil War battle flag—from civic presentation in New York City to field service in the occupied South. 

Documents directly tied to the issuance and transfer of regimental colors are notably scarce, particularly those connecting municipal sponsorship, express shipment, and field receipt in an active theater of war. The Marine Artillery association further enhances desirability, as these units represent a specialized and less commonly encountered branch of New York’s wartime forces. 

A concise, well-preserved example that bridges home-front patriotism and front-line service, with strong New York and coastal operations association. 

Transcription: 

“Received from the Committee on National Affairs of the Common Council of the City of New York, the Stand of Colors for the 1st Regiment, N.Y.S. Volunteers, Marine Artillery, forwarded to me per Adam’s Express, by said Committee. 

Dated New Bern, North Carolina 

May 20th 1863. 

Wm H. Brown, Colonel, 

——— Regt. N.Y.S. Vol.” 

Inventory Number: DOC 421

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