Six page letter written on April 23rd, 1865 by Helen ("Nellie") Augusta Barnard to her fiancé James Kipp Underhill, who was serving in Co. F, 13th New York Heavy Artillery. Regarding the assasination of President Lincoln, Nellie wrote in part:

"The feelings you express in your letter with regard to the assassination of our Chief Magistrate are the same as animates the beast of every true and noble lover of his country and liberty. All such as have true and noble hearts are overwhelmed with sorrow at this great national bereavement. While in the midst of rejoicings, we were thus bereaved. God in his wise Providence saw fit to afflict us and we must bow in resignation. We will still hope for brighter days when our Nation will be restored to peace and unity and war and strife shall cease. God grant that it may be ‘ere long."

Nellie's letter also relates a story of a riff between herself and a friend named Mary Ostrum, resulting from a remark Mary made expressing happiness that Lincoln had been assassinated. Though her friend later apologized, Nettie concluded that, "Henceforth, Mary and I will paddle our own canoe.”

The letter is in very good condition, and is written in bold and legible ink. A full transcription will be made available in this lot's photo gallery on April 21, 2022.

[Civil War, Union, Confederate] ] [Abolition][Slavery] [Abraham Lincoln] [John Wilkes Booth] [Slavery, Emancipation Proclamation, 13th Amendment]