MARCUS W. BEARDSLEY’s place in history came during the St. Albans Raid
during the Civil War when he was cashier of the Franklin County Bank. Twenty-two Confederates entered the town. They forced Beardsley and his colleagues to
exchange greenbacks for gold. A gun was drawn and he was ordered to bring out
all money on hand, some $70,000. Beardsley and a colleague were locked in the
vault, terrified that they would perish if the town was burned as
threatened. They were released a short
time later but the raid remains a fascinating sidebar to the Civil War. Beardsley’s
account is detailed in the book History
of the St. Albans Raid. Few items associated with the St. Albans Raid ever
appear on the market.
In this 8 x 10, 3 pp,
ALS, Oct. 19, 1840, Beardsley writes a witty letter to his friend attorney M.W.
Swift of Ottawa, IL, with comments on the Whigs, the hard cider ticket and his
new mercantile business, which includes the local post office.
“…I have at length cast
anchor permanently among the Green Mountain Whigs. The inhabitants are
universally Whigs. Men, Women & children go to the hard cider ticket. You
will at once infer that I am occasionally in the Society of her who in days
gone by occupied a considerable share of my thoughts. I met her after a lapse
of six years, but observed no particular change in appearance…I have formed a
mercantile business connection with C.C. Burton…under the name of Burton &
Beardsley in the Village of St. Albans…The P(ost) Office is to be kept in our
store. I am appointed Asst. PM…You proposed my engaging in the study of law. I
fear I should not be in a very great acquisition to the profession…Whether the
climate is the most congenial to my passion, sentiment & general
constitution, I do not know—but at any rate I presume it is not contrary to the
Constitution of the United States…Doct(or) W. Beadsley…wrote that he and Dot.
Waters intended to go to Fort Ann [N.Y.] probably after Ore.
Nice early postal
markings, circular St. Albans, Vermont, postmark.
Circular tear where
opened at the red wax seal, affecting ends of five lines on last page. Minor
edge toning. Else good.
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guaranteed authentic forever to the original buyer. We also offer a 30-day
return policy. If you discover a problem with anything you purchase from us,
please contact us immediately (617-236-4893). Our goal is to please every
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Club, The Manuscript Society and The Ephemera Society. [CW160]