Beschreibung:

Lot of 11 letters written by American ex-patriate Hervey Jenks Batcheller (ca 1826-1865), sent from Paris to his family in Massachusetts during the early years of the Civil War, 1861-1862. Batcheller hears of the war’s outbreak whilst abroad and is forced to rely on family correspondence and English-language French newspapers for coverage of the unfolding national crisis. Letters contain Batcheller’s eloquently recorded impressions of the Trent Affair, the general lawlessness of Confederate privateers, the evacuation of Nashville, the unprecedented naval battle at Hampton Roads, and Confederate diplomacy with European dignitaries. Accompanied by original covers franked with French imperforate 80-centime stamps of Napoleon in profile. The date of Batcheller’s departure for Paris is unclear, but he applied for a passport in 1855. By this time, Batcheller had entered into the prosperous shoe manufacturing firm established by his father, Tyler Batcheller (1793-1865). The company had offices in both Boston and the family hometown of North Brookfield and brought in $1.5 million annually. Hervey Batcheller left the company in 1860, presumably departing for Paris at some point between the time of his resignation and the date of his first letter, May 16, 1861. Here, he shares with his sister, Emma King of Boston, his initial reactions to the declaration of war: “It is truly sad to contemplate upon the dreadful disaster which has fallen upon our beloved nation; that we are arrayed in arms, one against the other.” He expresses confidence in the Union, stating that “the North [has] come out so united, and in such force, that it will be likely to overawe the South, and cause them to think before they enter upon their rash attempt to destroy the Union. But they have some desperate men among the leaders of this rebellion. . . I expect Jeff Davis has got a large army in the background. More than the North have the least idea about, for we only see one side of the field at present.” The reality of the conflict finally seems to reach Paris by the end of May, and Batcheller tells his family of general unease within the ex-patriot community, citing two incidents in particular: “Only last week a young man from Philadelphia, who has been here some time with his family...was talking quite energetically [about the War]...all of a sudden he fell back in his chair with an epileptic fit...[And] only yesterday another was so excited that he went into a pistol gallery and shot himself through the head, blowing his brains in all directions...that might be a more agreeable death than to fall into the hands of one of Jeff Davis’s Pirates at war?” Confederate privateers or commerce raiders were privately owned ships authorized by the CSA government to attack United States shipping vessels and seize their cargo. This tactic also served to divert the attentions of the Union Navy away from the blockade of Southern ports and perhaps to encourage European intervention in the conflict. Speaking to the latter point, Batcheller writes that “there are many [here] who say that they would not risk going to America now for fear of being taken by one of the privateer ships. It is said that quite a number of vessels are filtering over upon this side of the ocean to go in search of American vessels or steamers but I think that the English and French governments will keep a good look out to prevent any departure of armed vessels...[though] there is some prospect that [the CSA] may yet be recognized by England and France, the Southern Commissioners are to have a hearing before the Emperor this week (so it is reported).” The Confederate Army began to gain ground in the summer of 1861, and the solemnity of Batcheller’s letters form this time reveals his growing concern for his country. On July 9, 1861, he writes: “It looks more as if the war might be long and desperate. This last victory gained by the South rather changes the tone of journals on this side of the ocean – from th