1899 – Letter regarding the impact of the National Reunion of the Blue and Grany upon fraternal (probably Masonic) recruiting
Evansville, Indiana: 1899. Envelope or Cover. This illustrated letterhead and accompanying mailing envelope promoting the National Reunion of the Blue and Gray in 1899 were sent by L. F. Hudson to J. J. Cotter at Indianapolis, where it was forwarded to him at Fort Madison, Iowa. The letter is datelined “9=24th 1899.” The envelope is franked with a two-cent Washington stamp (Scott #279B) and bears an illegible R.P.O. (Railway Post Office) postmark. Indianapolis and Fort Madison receiving marks are on the reverse. In nice shape; the envelope has a tiny chip at the lower left corner.
The all-over envelope illustration is blue, gray, and red. It proclaims in bold lettering “National Reunion / of the / Blue & Gray / Oct. 10, 11, 12, 14, 14 / Evansville Ind. 1899.” It features a circular image of two one-armed uniformed Union and Confederate veterans shaking hands framed by U. S. flags and surmounted by an eagle. A manuscript annotation “14 Oct. ’99.” has been added to the illustration.
The impressive lettersheet announces that the reunion was organized “under the auspices of the Farragut Post G. A. R. (Grand Army of the Republic). It features a drawing of two veterans shaking hands while standing on a plank bridge above a trench with campsites in the background. It is surmounted by a U. S. flag and eagle. It also shows photomechanical images of leaders of the Blue and Gray components who would be attending: President William McKinley for the North and General Fitzhugh Lee for the South along with a list of the principal organizers of the reunion. Quotes from McKinely and Lee are featured as well:
“Every soldier’s grave made during the unfortunate civil war is a tribute to American valor. Pres’t Wm. McKinley”
“I feel that when one section extends the right hand of fellowship to the other, it is the duty of the other to grasp and hold it. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee.”
Based upon Hudson’s use of the classic Masonic address of “Bro” or Brother as well as the definitive Masonic closing, “Fraternally yours,” it is likely that both he and Cotter were lodge brothers, which would not be surprising as there was a massive overlap between Freemasons and the Grand Army of the Republic. The letter reads in part:
“Dear friend & Bro I have not made anymore collections up to date but will in the future the fair here and the Blue & Gray reunion has knocked us out for the present. . .. we are finding(?) several new members through which I will get after a while this fall and winter will be fruitful I think for our business. Bro Freelay is at Springfield M.O. if you are ever that way at any time you can see him. . .. Fraternally yours, L.F. Hudson”
. Very good. Item #010830The Civil War caused a deep and wide chasm of animosity between the people of the North and the South, and years of punishing Reconstruction widened that gap even farther. It wasn’t until after Reconstruction ended that the nation began to heal. The thaw first began between veterans, who faced similar harsh conditions and had made deep personal sacrifices during the war. By the 1880s, small-scale local joint reunions were held, and the establishment of the national military parks, like at Chickamauga and Shiloh, large events began to be held.
The National Reunion of the Blue and Gray at Evanston was a major event that, despite heavy rains, drew thousands of Union and Confederate soldiers, including the president, who had served in the war. It ran for four days and in addition to formal ceremonies, speeches, and parades, it included social campfires, band concerts, and informal meet-ups where the veterans swapped stories and reminisced about their wartime experiences.
(For more information, see “Blue-Gray Reunions” at Encyclopedia.com and contemporary news articles online.)
A scarce stationery set. At the time of listing nothing similar is for sale in the trade. Although the Rare Book Hub and ASBA have no records of similar items appearing at auction, at least two mailing envelopes (without lettersheets) were sold in philatelic sales. OCLC shows no information about this reunion is held by any institution.
.Price: $250.00