Abner Doubleday, Credited for Launching Baseball, McCalmont Expounds Views on Slavery

[DOUBLEDAY, ABNER] Autograph Letter Signed, “John S. McCalmont”, 8pp, on two sets of adjoining sheets, 5” x 8”, Washington, March 18, 1893. Expected folds, slightly trimmed top edge, else Fine.

McCalmont, a classmate of Doubleday’s at West Point, writes to recently widowed Mary Hewitt Doubleday, in part, "I have looked over the clippings from the newspapers, which you enclosed, and find much in them suggestive of the General's distinguished services, of which I have taken note and reinclose them to you, as you requested, for preservation in your scrap-book.

I cannot hope, in the small space which will be allotted to me by the secretary of the Association of Graduates, to do anything like justice to the General's participation in the many engagements he was in, and the various positions he held with honor in his Country's service.

Your own personal history, as sharer in his joys, as well as in his marches, trials, and dangers, or so much of it, as you relate, is peculiarly interesting to me... It is stated, in some of the newspaper notices, that the General, before the war, was very free to express his opinions on the 'peculiar institution' of African Slavery - I would like to know if you noticed this, and if it had any effect on your social position with the Charleston, or Southern people. I presume, when the cloud began to gather in 1860, all northern officers, were more or less tabooed by many of the Southern secessionists.

You mention that the General was a man of 'iron nerve & determined will,' which agrees with my recollection of him. And I have no doubt he became strong, physically, & vigorous or he could not have endured the marches, privations & vicissitudes of his Military life, but I have an impression, which I own is but faint, that at West Point he sometimes appeared to be fatigued".

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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