Two Autograph Letters Signed from Surgeon William C. Towle of the 23rd and 12th Maine Infantry Regiments with Sketches of Camp. Two letters from Assistant Surgeon William Clement Towle and sent to his wife [Ann Elizabeth Warren] while stationed near or at Edwards Ferry, Maryland with the 23rd Maine Infantry. The letters contain his detailed pencil sketches of the camp and his personal tent. Original transmittal envelopes and near full transcriptions accompany the lot. In the first letter, Towle discusses his superior blocking two of Towle’s patients' discharge orders. He claims their denial was because the head surgeon feared being sent to the front if they ran out of men to treat in camp. "I had two men here in hospital which I wanted to get discharged as I was confident that they never would regain their health in this climate. The surgeon in charge was not inclined to think as I did, and therefore wished to retain them. I understood the reason of this very well; he was getting rather short of patients in his wards, and if he got entirely out he would then be sent somewhere else, perhaps to the field." He also included a drawing of his tent [7.5" x 4.75"] and remarked, "I will send a drawing of my tent. The front part is a wall tent & the back part which is the sleeping apartment, is stocked, built up with logs on the sides." Four pages of a bifolium, 5.25" x 8", "HdQrs"; April 21, 1863. The second letter was sent three days later and contains an elaborate sketch of the camp [15.75" x 12.5"] which details the location of the hospital tent, officer’s tents, and multiple cook houses, all of which surround the parade grounds. He writes that the 23rd had been broken up and scattered around Washington, D.C. as part of their assignment to defend the city, before discussing the death of one nephew and wounding of another [Alden B. Walker, 17th Maine Infantry]. "The sketch of our encampment…will however give you some idea better than I could describe it. It is situated on a beautiful piece of ground a hundred feet or more above the level of the river giving us a splendid view of the country for miles around. We were in hopes to have remained here during the term of our enlistment but the powers that be decided otherwise and our companies are now scattered as I have told you before." Four pages on two separate sheets, 8" x 12.25" and 8" x 6.25", Edwards Ferry; April 24, 1863. The two letters offer an interesting look into the organization of camps that served as more long-term bases during the war. William C. Towle (1830-1900) had commissioned into the 23rd on January 1, 1863 and remained with them until the regiment mustered out of service July 15, 1863. He then enlisted in the 12th Maine Infantry in November 1863 and served with them until they mustered out on April 18, 1866. Condition: Very gently soiled and rubbed in places. HID03101062020 © 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

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