GEORGE BLESSING ALS:

GEORGE BLESSING was a 70 year old farmer who resided in the mountains near Myersville, a land on the border of the Confederacy and subject to depredations from both armies. As a veteran of the War of 1812, and in later life, in the days of Civil war, he showed that he still had fighting blood in him. He was a strong Union man, and he had long been a disbeliever in slavery and had emancipated his slaves.

In two well written pages, he relays here his the story of the invading rebels on his property and the heroic battle that ensued, resulting in Abraham Lincoln himself presenting him with a fine silver-mounted repeating rifle as a token for his bravery:

“Wolfsville, Frederick County, Md. December 9th 1864, “…the part which was my lot to take in this unnatural War I was of compulsion during the invasion of Maryland in July by the Rebels they spread in large squads, and robbed and plundered the Citizens of Washington & Frederick Counties at their pleasure on the 9th a squad of some 40 strong, Commanded by Major Harmon of Va. Came intro sight of my farm, where they detailed five of their No. to ride up as skirmished, and to steal my horses, as they rode in haste to the Barn myself and son (a youth) poured into them such a crop fire, that before they could retreat we killed one, and wounded two, one of which made his escape (but died that evening at Middletown)

... then we took three prisoner, the balance got back to their crowd, and before I could reload my guns 10 in No. they returned reinforced with 19, who had pressed into their service four of my neighbors, as guards and sent them ahead to learn my strength, my son then retreated, I then changed my Base, and with four guns took my stand by the same cherry trees at the lanes and as their guides came up, I stopt them under pain of Death if they Moved from the spot one of them broke, and ran back to the Rebels, I fired on him but without affect, as soon as he reached the Rebels, they opened fire upon me,

I returned my three loaded guns and struck to my tree, where the missiles of death flew thick but fell harmless at my feet, the Rebels fired to their hearts content, and then retreated leaving their dead & wounded in my hands, supposing I had a strong force, they would bring up a battery and Shell me out, I sent them word that I had put their wounded Rebel in my Barn, and if they wished to burn him up that they might do so. However a little before sunset Capt. Vernon’s 1st Maryland Cavalry came up they helpt to bury the dead and remained all night.

To name every incident of that eventful day would fill several pages. Suffice it to say, that I went forth to Meet the Rebels in the name of the Lord God of Hosts, and obtained a victory that…is rarely found in history…George Blessing.”

Mounted to contemporary backing paper along with an original newspaper account of his story in the Hagerstown Herald. A few light fox marks, Very Good.                                                                                     $300 - up