American Historical Ephemera & Photography Online

3 pages, 7 3/4 x 9 11/16 in., on bifolium. Creasing, loss to seal break, few repaired and non-repaired separations and holes to crease intersections, toning. Addressed to Mrs. Levinia H. Smith or Norway, ME on integral leaf and postally cancelled at Augusta, ME. 

In this letter to his wife, Elliot Smith writes of the goings on related to the Aroostook War. In part: "Augusta has been the scene of great excitement this week. about 800 of the detatchment [sic] from this division were ordered to meet here on Monday last, and before noon the streets were crowded with people, and every barn and shed crowded with horses, in addition to the troops there was a large number of spectators to witness the scene. On Tuesday the troops assembled in front of Johnsons and Moors tavern and extrended up to the foot of the hill towards Winthrop, they were reviewed by the Governor who addressed them...what rendered the scene more warlike in appearance was the number of wagons and sleds in the streets loaded with not less than one thousand muskets, besides other military stores. the troops have all left for the frontier." 

He continues: "We have no particular news from the disputed territory. our forces are fortifying themselves and daily daily [sic] receiving accessions to their numbers. Sir John Harvey has ordered out what troops he has, but their number is not equal to ours, and it is thought by some that there will be no fighting at present." 

He concludes his letter on a different date, 1 March, reporting the death of Mr. Waterhouse, the clerk of the House of Representatives. A collection has been taken up for his widow.

[With:] WHITE, P[?]. C. ALS. Whitestown, 29 August 1941. 3 pages, 7 7/8 x 9 15/16 in., on bifolium. Creasing, separation to creases and crease intersections, toning throughout. Addressed to Hugh White Esq. of Cohoes NY on integral leaf and postally cancelled at Whitestown, NY. In part: "We have a springling [sic] of the pat-ri-ot outbreak. I found the village under a strict patroll [sic] and a system of espoinage [sic] upon all night walkers, by night, & of strangers by day for the personal protection & safe keeping of McLeod [indecipherable] prisoner quasi. It is still shrouded in mystery, & whether cause exists for all the parade rests in doubt in the minds of many. the cause of it is as follows. on Friday last Letters were rec'd by his Hon. the first Judge, the Shff of the County & Mr. Spencer, McLeods counsel from the Sec. of State John C. Spencer informing us that he had information that he believed there was no mistake about its truth that a gang of fr. 300 to 500 Canadian patriots were dispersed in the woods & in boats in the vicinity of our gaol with an intention of kidnaping [sic] McLeod and if they should fail in that to massacre him in the gaol. The first judge being absent his sage advice in the matter was not available. The other dignitaries after 'curia advisari vult' established a patroll by night & by day, and our citizens armed to the teeth stand ready a a moments warng. to act as circumstances may seem to require..."