Gray Letters 1864 09 29

Letter

-

Museum of History Benicia

The image depicts an old handwritten letter dated September 29, 1864, addressed to Mr. Saml C. Gray. The writer discusses their previous anticipation to hear from Mr. Gray but assumes he stayed longer in the West than expected. The letter describes activities undertaken since his last visit, including a trip to Rochester for fruit-gathering and household tasks like making jellies and packing household items. The writer mentions their return in early September and the preparations for moving permanently to New Bedford.

The image depicts an old handwritten letter dated September 29, 1864, addressed to Mr. Saml C. Gray. The writer discusses their previous anticipation to hear from Mr. Gray but assumes he stayed longer in the West than expected. The letter describes activities undertaken since his last visit, including a trip to Rochester for fruit-gathering and household tasks like making jellies and packing household items. The writer mentions their return in early September and the preparations for moving permanently to New Bedford.

Name/Title

Gray Letters 1864 09 29

Entry/Object ID

2024.10.1.107

Description

Edward Crocker talks about his coming move to New Bedford from North Bridgewater and the things they have been doing to keep busy. He discusses the high price of gold and the fact that it is now coming down. He wishes they could have known about the rising price but is glad for the country that the price is falling. (Gold price in 1864 was $47.02 and was less than half that amount , $20.67, in 1861.) At the end of the letter he says that the coming election of Mr. Lincoln could be the end for the Confederacy. He thinks that the recent victories on the battlefield could be causing people to hold on to the current war policy rather than pushing to sue for peace. NOTE: Presidential elections were held in the United States on November 8, 1864, near the end of the American Civil War. Incumbent President Abraham Lincoln of the National Union Party easily defeated the Democratic nominee, former General George B. McClellan, by a wide margin of 212–21 in the electoral college, with 55% of the popular vote. For the election, the Republican Party and some Democrats created the National Union Party, especially to attract War Democrats. The Democrats were divided between the Copperheads, who favored immediate peace with the Confederacy, and War Democrats, who supported the war.

Collection

Benicia Historical Museum Collection

Letter Details

Letter Date

Sep 29, 1864