Item No. 5994181

An early postwar letter written by former Union general Edward W. Hinks (Hincks). Written from Cambridge, Massachusetts, Hinks writes to contribute $100 toward a hall for the post of the Grand Army of the Republic at Saugus, which was named in his honor. The general signs, “Edw. W. Hincks.”

Hinks served as lieutenant colonel of the 90-day 8th Massachusetts in 1861. Upon expiration of their term, many of the men reenlisted in the 19th Massachusetts Volunteers and Hinks was commissioned colonel. He was wounded at the Battle of Antietam and spent the next year and a half recovering. In the interim, he was promoted to brigadier general and served on court martial duty. He returned to the field in the spring of 1864, commanding the division of colored troops in the Army of the James during the initial assaults on Petersburg.

The letter was written on a single sheet of “City of Cambridge” letterhead measuring about 8” x 10”. Creased at the original folds. The full transcript follows.

City of Cambridge.
June 11th 1866

My dear Sawyer:
Enclosed find my check for one hundred dollars in payment of subscription for Hall for Post 95, G.A.R., Saugus, Mass., which bears my name.
Yours very truly
Edw. W. Hincks