OT: Needing Help With Historical Docs. 1868 President Andrew Johnson - Blair Knights

[Runscott]

Shawn, I can feel your excitement.

To me, there is nothing more exciting than holding one of these old letters. Unlike a card or photo which it is unlikely that the person ever touched, you know when you are looking at these letters that each page at one time was sitting on a desk beneath the person's hand as they thought about what they were going to write. It's a closeness in this hobby that you don't get too many other ways.

[benderbroeth]

History detectives

[smokelessjoe]

Scott,

I could not agree with you more - it is just hard to believe that history like this is still out there. I will add to your comment & say that allot of times it is a great way to learn about history that was never taught in school - like following your own history trail.

History Detectives! Ha, I have thought about contacting them in the past with some other items I have - but I think they probably get bombarded with requests!

Ok, if folks do not mind, I am going to keep posting about these letters on Net54 - Its a great forum and I cannot find any where else to share this! Again thank you all...

MYSTERY LETTER!

Below is pictured one of the letters that I cannot figure out - Anyone care to take a stab at the author????

It is a letter written to Hon. Thomas L Macon pres. of the Democratic State Central Committee in 1868 from the Metropolitan Hotel in Washington DC... This is the guy who talks about meeting with Pres. Andrew Johnson, Montgomery Blair, & Gen. George McClellan - I wonder if he is some kind of reporter or something???

I am going to be on the road for the better part of the day - I may or may not be able to respond to any questions for awhile??

Any Guesses???

[ctownboy]

A ? Bruce ????????

David

[Michael B]

I cannot decipher the signature, but the initials are A.G.B. It is not Ambrose G. Bierce as his signature was very lineal.

The Blair Knights and Seymour Knights probably refer to Horatio Seymour, Democratic nominee for President in 1868 and his vice-presidential running mate Francis P. Blair, Jr. Blair's father was a member of Lincoln's cabinet and he was a Union General and former Senator. After the war he changed parties from Republican to Democrat as he opposed the Reconstruction policies of the federal government and President Johnson. In the first letter, Mr. Hays refers to the two groups as military organizations. They may have been organized under the umbrella of the first version of the Klu Klux Klan. The first Klan was not terribly organized as many of the people claiming to be members would not agree to the Prescript or dogma. I will not get into the whole history, but there was strong enforcement and prosecution against the groups and it was found that 'members' of the early Klan included Blacks, Republicans, bootleggers, common criminals and a slew of other people. Prior to the 1868 election there was a lot of intimidation of Republican voters in the South to prevent them from partipating in the presidential election. U.S. Grant was still elected.

In summary, these groups referred to were probably Caucasian ex-Confederate soldiers who wanted to restore the rights and franchise of those who supported the CSA. After the original Klan was pretty much disbanded in 1874 other groups like the White League and Red Shirts appeared. These were more paramilitary than the original Klan.

I hope this helps. For background info I formerly collected and dealt in Civil War signatures and documents. A few of the dealers still know me by the finds that I made in the 1990's including a large group of documents signed by Bernard Bee and an 1848 Mexican War letter written by Richard B. Garnett. Bee was a Confederate General killed at First Manassas and is credited with giving 'Stonewall' Jackson his nickname. Garnett was a Confederate General killed at Gettysburg during Pickett's Charge.

Cheers,

Michael

[smokelessjoe]

First let me say Wow! Thank you Michael for your response! I was sort of getting tidbits if what you stated in my research, but nothing as concise & to the point as your post. Thank you, - its funny - it seems that in some of the earlier literature that I have found the authors still wanted to beat around the bush and not state what some of these organizations were... Even several years later.

David, I have tried many variations on the Bruce - still not sure - thank you for the Guess.

A.G.B That Michael stated may be correct - I am wondering if the name is not A.G. Brice - A Louisiana Judge during this period. I am not sure and have not researched enough because of the "Holiday" ... Not sure why he would have been in Washington DC either.

The reason I think "Brice" is check out the second word written in the letter - it is "arrived" and is very similar to the Mystery Name..

Shawn

[smokelessjoe]

This was a tough one (signature) for me.... Below is a letter written by Christian Roselius apparently in response to a request from J. B. Walton & T. L. Macon to advocate a Democratic nomination. The letter is very matter a fact and states I will not because "I Am A Whig" etc...

Christian Roselius was Attorney General of Louisiana for two years and a rather well known lawyer! If it were not for the Wiki Signature below his picture I am not sure if I would have figured it out.

The second picture is a signature from a letter written to Colonel Thomas L Macon from New York on Sept. 20 1868. I wish I new what it is talking about - the first sentence is very intriguing "It's conceded on all sides that the pictures representing the present legislature of our state is the best Campaign Document out - for God Sake send 20,000 Copies at once to Pennsylvania and send me all you can here by express care C.R. Marshall No2 Aster House" and goes on...

Any guesses? Anyone recongnize the name????