CIVIL WAR LETTERS OF
MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE RICHARDSON
(Mark L. Richardson)

1862 or 1863

This elaborate drawing was enclosed in a letter to Mark's cousin, Deborah Blanchard Rideout of New Gloucester, Maine. It was probably sent with one of the three letters I have transcribed at this site (dated Nov 9 and Dec 14, 1862, and Jan 10 1863) but could have been in another letter which I have not discovered. (None of the three transcribed letters makes mention of this drawing.)

Closed. The banner across the top, held in an eagle's beak, says "Union For Ever." The eagle is perched on a teepee decorated as an American flag and holds a branch of oak in its talons. The teepee is a separate piece of paper glued to a sheet of ruled writing paper. It opens down the middle (see below).

Opened. The teepee opens up to reveal a little verse bordered with a star, crossed rifles and various other items of military gear. The verse is as follows:

My country's cause to serve
For her to do or die-
Her love my arm will nerve
Liberty my Battle cry