American Historical Ephemera & Photography

4pp, 4to. "Headquarters, Fort Lyon Va.," 27 October 1862. Addressed to his brother and sister. -- 4pp, 4to. "Fort Lyon Virginia," 17 February 1863. Addressed to his sister Frances. -- 4pp, 8vo. "Fort Lyon Va.," 16 March 1863. Addressed to his sister. -- 4pp, 8vo. "Headquarters, Capitol Hill, Washington D.C.," 4 June 1863. Addressed to his sister. -- Together, 4 ALsS by Malcom Ammidon. Each creased at folds, the two 8vo letter with significant discoloration to edges. 

[With:] HIGGINSON, Thomas Wentworth (1823-1891). Army Life in a Black Regiment. [Boston?]: [Lee and Shepard?], 1890. 8vo. Original cloth boards (significant wear to extremities, remnants of library label to spine, library label present to interior cover, some pages fully separated from binding). 

Lieutenant Malcom Ammidon was a middle-aged manufacturer when he enlisted in the army on 11 July 1862. "I staid home as long as I could, but when the call came for three hundred thousand more men, I felt as though I ought not to stay any longer while so many of our brave and worthy countrymen were risking their lives in a cause which I was as much interested as anyone," wrote Ammidon. "I go forth to do what little lays in my power to sustain 'the greatest government on God's footstool,' May this wicked rebellion be soon crushed out so we can again meet in peace..." (Fort Lyon, 27 October 1862). He attempted to enlist as a private, "but [his] friends in Southbridge and vicinity thought [he] was worthy of a commission" as a Sergeant. (Ibid). He humbly wrote, "May they never have cause to regret their action in my earnest wish." (Ibid). 

Ammidon took his position seriously and quickly earned a promotion to 2nd Lieut. He "stud[ied] pretty hard to master the mysteries of the military" (Ibid). He wrote to his family in great detail of "the order of exercises" of his regiment to give them an idea of how great a task it was. He was genuinely excited by a visit from the President with General Banks, Heintzelman, and other members of staff "The President caused special order to be issued thanking us, and complimenting our appearance," wrote Ammidon, "[He] and his escort made a brilliant display as they passed along the long lines of infantry, the President leading off with his hat in his hand. He was mounted on a splendid charger, and seemed to manage him with perfect case" (Ibid). 

He held all his superiors with similar esteem. "I heard Gen Hooker is getting ready to make some great move as soon as the weather will permit I have a great deal of confidence in him," wrote Ammidon about his superior officers, "if anything can be accomplished by fighting he will do it...Gen Rosecrans seems to be a lively general, and to get along as well as any of them, I think a great deal of him, and think if they only will only give him the men and means, and then let him alone, he would soon give the rebellion some staggering blows." (Fort Lyon, 16 March 1863)

Ammidon did not have the same youthful fervor as young soldiers but a quite disposition gained with age and experience. He often wrote of the beauty of the night and the quiet moments of "meditation" he took near camp. He was astute in recognizing there were other dangers to his life beyond the battlefield. "I fear disease more much more than I do enemies bullets," wrote Ammidon (Ibid). He also wrote in a relieved tone when the regiment was surprisingly moved to Upton's Hill rather than the front to reinforce General Hooker "in his great fight on the Rappahannock." (Headquarters Capitol Hill, 4 June 1863) "I certainly do not feel like finding any fault, although there probably is not as much glory to be got, nor as many broken heads and amputated legs & arms...." wrote Ammidon. (Ibid). Military life did not necessarily suit him. He wrote home saying that he hoped it was not necessary for him to serve a whole term, "but if it [was] necessary for a final settlement of [the] question, [he] had rather stay twice that time, than to have anymore sham compromises, which cover[ed] over the sore without healing it." (17 February 1863). 

Underneath his calm disposition was a deep passion. He had very strong feelings about the war and the institution of slavery. He wrote to his family, "I want this question settled now, once for all, and not have it left as an accursed legacy to our children. I never was a negro worshiper, and my love for them has not increased for the past four years and when I think what miseries they have been the means of inflicting upon our beloved country, I can't help hating them. I know they are not to blame for being niggers, and ought not to be held to account for all these things but still if there had been no slaves in the country this war would not have been brought about. I do not think the two classes can ever live peaceably together, and I think the Presidents idea of colonization a very good one. I do not think this war ought to be brought to a close, and leave the system of slavery in the land, for it would only be putting off the evil day to some future time the then owners of slaves might be tempted by the thing over again. As I have said before I want the matter settled now they have began it" (Ibid).

Ammidon and his regiment were captured by rebel forces on 15 May 1864 at New Market, VA. He was detained in Macon, GA and Charleston, SC. His fears of contracting disease were realized, and on 1 October 1864, he died of a disease caught while at camp. He left behind his wife and his children. She attempted to apply for pension in February the next year.