Presented in this lot are Tombstone Arizona Territory S. L. Hart Civil War Letters, January to September 1862. Provenance: Tombstone Western Heritage Museum, Tombstone, Arizona. One hundred twenty-one (121) handwritten letters from from Hart to his wife. Hart wrote succinctly but vividly about day to day life in the different U. S. Army camps he was in, both during training and on the battlefield. His letters tell about his time in the service, preparing for battles and the aftermath, pitching tents, drilling all day and being tired. Hart wrote these letters during his deployments to Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi and Alabama. Recurring themes throughout Hart's letters focus on his time as a Captain, soldiers that served with him previously that are also assigned with him again, friends from home who are possibly avoiding military service, questions and comments about his two young children, but mostly regarding receiving mail from home. Receiving mail from home was a lifeline for soldiers and any delay in receiving a letter was met with much angst. That same angst is vividly felt in Hart's letters. Letters were immensely important during the US Civil War, serving as the primary means of communication to maintain vital emotional connections between soldiers and civilians and providing invaluable historical records for understanding the conflict. They offered crucial emotional support for soldiers, helped civilians keep abreast of loved ones' situations, and provided future generations with a rich source of firsthand accounts of soldiers' and civilians' experiences, beliefs, and feelings. Samuel Lombard Hart (1830-1893) prior to becoming a very highly regarded and skilled gunsmith during his ten years in Tombstone, had two separate tours of duty with Union forces in the Civil War. As a Lieutenant, he served with the Wisconsin 10th Infantry and as an Assistant Signal Officer for the 4th Division of the Army of the Tennessee seeing action in several battles including Pittsburgh Landing. Hart was stationed in Memphis, Tennessee after it was captured by Union forces. Hart's second enlistment in 1864 was as a "Hundred Days Man", a nickname applied to a series of regiments of United States Volunteers raised in 1864 for 100-day service in the Union Army during the height of the American Civil War. These short-term, lightly trained troops freed veteran units from routine duty to allow them to go to the front lines for combat purposes. The 41st Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, in which Hart served, was one such unit. As such, Hart's unit was involved in the Second Battle of Memphis in August of 1864. After the war as a gunsmith in Tombstone Arizona Territory, if gun repairs were needed, Hart's on Fremont Street was the place to go, located just a short distance from the famous Fly Photography studio and right next door to the O.K. Corral. On Oct. 26th of 1881 Hart, while working in his store, would be one of the relatively few witnesses to the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral that made Tombstone and the Earp's famous. Guns that were re-worked or repaired by Hart were often stamped with his logo, which was the letters S and L over a "heart," an artistic yet compact and simple way of saying "S.L. Hart." S.L. was entrusted with both basic repairs as well as also sought out for his special Colt pistols. Some of Hart's more notable clients were US Marshal Wyatt Earp, Doc Holiday, outlaw Ike Clanton and Buckskin Frank Leslie. It has been said that the legacy of S.L. Hart as gunsmith to the cowboys, gamblers, lawmen, and gunfighters of Tombstone cannot be over estimated. Today a firearm with the "S.L. Hart" stamp is almost priceless. The letters are in amazingly well preserved condition, age tanning consistent with handling and age, some staining noted, each in a clear protective sleeve. Sleeves measure 9.5"W x 11.25"L, three-ring binder is 11.5"W x 11.5"L x 2.75"D, combined weight is 5lb, 4oz.
