[Americana] [Philadelphia] Archive of Letters from Elizabeth Wilcocks Ingersoll to Bessie Mason Coles, ca. 1862-63

Philadelphia, ca. July 1862-March 1863. Archive of approximately 40 complete or partial autograph letters by Elizabeth Wilcocks Ingersoll, to her close friend Bessie Mason Coles, during the midst of the American Civil War. Size and number of pages vary, many crossed letters with text in both directions, some with original addressed envelopes. Condition varies, all creased from old folds with closed tears along same. Lot also includes four letters addressed to Ethel Amory, daughter of Elizabeth Ingersoll; with two by Betsy C. Coles of 2010 De Lancey Place, Philadelphia, transmitting the group of correspondence.

An extensive archive of letters between two members of elite Philadelphia families, penned during the midst of the American Civil War. The author, Elizabeth Wilcocks Ingersoll (1840-1905) was the granddaughter of United States Constitution signer Jared Ingersoll. The recipient, Bessie Mason Coles (1844-1920), was a descendant of Continental Congressman George Mason. She was the wife of prominent Philadelphia lawyer Edward Coles, Jr., whose father and namesake was the Governor of Illinois, and a close friend to Presidents Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe.

Throughout Ingersoll and Coles's friendly correspondence is contemporary commentary on local and national politics, Civil War developments, and updates on their respective families. Others mentioned are well-known Philadelphia families, such as Biddle, Cadwalader, Wharton, Van Buren, Willing, Waln, and more.

One dramatic letter, dated August 28, 1862, describes, "...Papa [Charles Ingersoll] attended a Democratic meeting held in the Square last Saturday night-and being fearless unlike most of his party at present, was not afraid openly to avow his sentiments and disapprobation of the Administration...on Monday morning at about 10 o'clock, two men marched into papa's office and bid him consider himself arrested for traitorous language!.." A newspaper article on the same day in the Philadelphia Public Ledger describes these events, stating that Charles Ingersoll was arrested by order of the War Department suspending his writ of habeas corpus.

In another letter dated, September 4, 1862, Ingersoll writes to her friend that "...The 'enemy' is now the term, and not 'rebels'- Everything at present though is undecided- should we repulse their attacks on Washington the seesaw will again be up in favor of the North. They (The Southerners) are very much in the position we were in some months ago..." In a later letter, dated September 11, 1862, she will lament "...You are fortunate to be out of this afflicted country- really Bessie you don't know how dreadfully despised I sometime feel when I think of how everything is going to ruin and all for this despicable war- Homes destroyed and broken up forever by the deaths of those killed in battle..."

An interesting look into war-time events of Union dominated Philadelphia.

This lot is located in Philadelphia.

[Americana] [Philadelphia] Archive of Letters from Elizabeth Wilcocks Ingersoll to Bessie Mason Coles, ca. 1862-63