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CHARLES STEVENS : 1861 ARCHIVE OF SIX [6] MANUSCRIPT LETTERS HANDWRITTEN BY A CONFEDERATE SYMPATHIZER TAUNTING HIS BROTHER 'A LINCOLN MAN'

12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. On offer is a sensational archive of six [6] manuscript letters handwritten by seaman Charles Stevens, to his brother John Stevens in Cambridge, Massachusetts. [Historians and collectors of early and Civil War era New York will delight that three letters are on illustrated lettersheets from Lovejoy's Hotel, New York and as such quite rare. This hotel was located on the corner of Park Row and Beekman Street.] These letters exemplify the 'Brother against Brother' sense of the Civil War. There are three pre-war letters; Jan. 8, 14, and 23, 1861; plus Aug. 21, 28 and Dec. 19, 1861. Very interesting content between the brothers on opposite sides of the oncoming war with all mentioning President Lincoln and/or the war and include a shocking Lincoln reference of sexual innuendo. Here are snippets: Jan. 8 - "I am in New York yet. Some my folks has failed and it will be some time before I go to sea. The time is very dull here now and I expect there [they are] with you and all your Lincoln men. I expect you can now begin to see what you are come to...Look at the New York papers & read and the dull times...all on your partys account...The Country may go yet and if so I go South with them. I think it is the best place for me." Jan. 14 - "I cannot tell how much longer I shall be here in NY. If old Abe had not been elected time would be good here now and I would have been at sea long ago. They will do something soon. Fite [fight] or let it alone. I do not care a dam which. If they do I hope the South will whip. I will help them." Jan. 23 - "Your business is good I expect being a Lincoln man. But I am not so it is bad with me."; "I have a bad opinion of all the Lincoln folks. But the Rail he first split is here, here now, that is his wife. I think be what they say it did not hurt her much. But never that you will see what you are coming to. The North cannot whip the South..." Aug. 21 - "Loots [lots] of troops going through New York this week and vessels of all kinds from the Navy Yard going to sea. The Yellow Fever is very bad now in Cuba and I do not know but it is well that I am in New York for a while longer...The London times are giving the United States pickels now. Bully for them. They will make the most of this, ha, and will laff at us much when we go there...Bad luck for the Country." Aug. 23 - "Things looks mity Blue in new York. But I live in hope yet and when they get so bad that I cannot stay I will leave the Country for a better land & stay awhile till things get better. Thank God there is more than one country in this World...I am gitting tired of it and want to go to sea...I hope they will have a good fight soon and one or other win. Much excitement in New York at present." Dec. 19 - "I am now loaded and will sail tomorrow or Saturday morning if wind & weather permit. I have 8 passengers, a good vessel & a light cargo & hope to go quick."; "What do you think of the war & etc."Letters are octavo and quarto. Each about 2pp. Spelling is rough, but readable. Overall VG+.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good+

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