Abraham M. Browning, 38th New Jersey Infantry, Archive of Letters. A group of 21 letters total, with 11 war dated from Browning, 2 post-war, and the rest written by members of his family or friends. Browning was a late enlister in the American Civil War, not joining until September of 1864. He enlisted as a captain and was soon mustered into Company H of the 38th New Jersey Infantry. Commanded by Colonel William J. Sewell, the regiment was ordered to City Point and then to Fort Powhatan, on the James River, where it remained until Robert E. Lee's surrender. Browning was mustered out of service on June 30, 1865. Due to the fact that he saw limited action, Browning wrote home more often than not with details of his soldering life and general news around the fort. Soon after he joined the 38th New Jersey, he wrote home on November 6, 1864, from Fort Powhatan, with a description of a typical day for his sister. In part: " ...the first thing that is heard in the morning is the Reville or walking call at which the men have to turn out and answer to their names. This call is beaten at Sunrise, I or my Lt. have to attend this call. We then wash, get breakfast and attend to the wants of the men. The next call is at 9.30 A.M., when the Recall sounds. We then come in and get our dinners. At 2.30 P.M. the drill call again sounds when we go out and drill till 4 P.M. We then go into the Quarters and prepare for Dress Parade which is sounded at 5 P.M. After this we have no Roll Call till 8.30 P.M. this call is called Tattoo and is the last of the day. The Taps sound at 8.45 P.M. when all the lights except in the Officers Quarters have to be put out. This may give you some idea of a soldier's life in camp..." [Two pages, front and back, 7.75" x 9.75"]. The following month, Browning was beginning to grow weary of his inaction. He wrote to his mother on December 4, 1864, and shared his thoughts on Sherman's March to the Sea and the appointment of a new servant. Reads in part: "We are still at the same place, doing very heavy duty. This kind of life is becoming very monotonous but it is all serving Uncle Sam so I will not grumble...Sherman's march will sicken the Rebellion considerably if he brings it to a successful end. The Rebellion has received many heavy blows of late...I have parted with my white servant and now have a regular Congo...He appears to be both intelligent and industrious. His wages I expect will be his clothes and board. He is just in from the Rebel lines..." [Four pages of a bifolium, 4.75" x 7.75"]. That same day, Browning wrote a letter to his sister, with a more colorful description of his new servant. In part: " ...I now have a Nig. For a servant. I will describe him for you for your amusement. He is of rather short stature, of a color that would put night to shame, a head of moderate size covered with wool enough to fill a half heck measure, ivories as white as chalk and lower extremities of the African form and dimensions. He does not say much, grins considerably and answers y-e-s sir to all most all you say. He is not at all lacking in common sense, is very willing and industrious. He is cook, waiter, valet de Chambre..." [Three pages of a bifolium, 4.75" x 7.75"]. Near the end of the war, Browning jotted down a letter to his friend, Josephine, lamenting the fact that he would be unable to get a furlough to return home to see everyone. Dated March 19, 1865, it reads in part: " ...My First Lieutenant has been mustered out of this company and Regt to receive a commission in the Negro troops. There is no chance of my getting a furlow [sic]. It is too late in the season now even should I have any one to take charge of my company..." [Two pages, front and back, 7.75" x 12.5"]. In one of his last letters, dated April 23, 1865, the young soldier mourns with the rest of the country over the death of Abraham Lincoln. He also, notably, provides his own conspiracy theory about who may have planned the assassination. In part: " ...I suppose the glorious news from the Armies must have entoxicated [sic] the North but the time for rejoicing was indeed suddenly cut short by the assassination of President Lincoln. The man who murdered him, is, to judge from his letter, little better than a lunatic but I think he was but a tool. I think the ‘Knights of the Golden Circle' are at the bottom of it, if so may every one of them perish. I think that as far as the South is concerned we may soon expect to be nominally at peace as we now are virtually..." [Three pages of a bifolium, 5" x 8"]. The Knights of the Golden Circle was a secret society established in 1854 with the express purpose to promote Southern nationalism and secession. The group's ultimate goal was to annex the "Golden Circle", which included land in the southern United States, the West Indies, Mexico, and parts of Central America, and establish a slaveholding empire. Although no concrete information can be provided, suspected members include Nathan Bedford Forrest, Jefferson Davis, John Wilkes Booth, and Jesse James. The additional letters in the archive include messages from Browning's mother, sister, and numerous female friends. Many of the letters have retained their original transmittal covers. After the war, Browning married Josephine Cooper and bought a farm. Browning would die in 1880 after contracting laryngitis. Although he saw little action in the Civil War, his letters and those of his family and friends, still provide interesting and informative details of this period in American history. Condition: Letters show varying degrees of toiling and soiling. All letters have flattened mail folds. Some have a few tears or separations. Covers show usual wear and soiling. HID03101062020 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved