[BASEBALL]. CIVIL WAR. BLANCHARD, HENRY. Autograph letter signed ("Henry") to his brother Horace, n.p., n.d., [Washington, D.C., 1 May 1864]. 2 full pages, 8vo, on lined stationery, lightly browned, with original envelope (stamp cut away). BASEBALL DURING THE CIVIL WAR. A Union soldier describes troop movements and a baseball game: "...We have received marching orders and probably by this time tomorrow we shall be on the banks of the Rapidan or away up towards Madison C.H. One year ago today...I was issuing ammunition out to the rebels on Salem Heights [Chancellorsville] one round at a time. I have no particular desire to get into another hornet's nest as that. But where duty calls we must go...I mentioned [General Ambrose Everett] Burnside's Corps... as being at Manassas Plains...The next day he marched down the Railroad relieving the 5th Army Corps as he came along with his coloured troops. He is now...at Rappahannock Station, unless he has moved today. The 5th Army Corps have been marching today in the direction of Culpepper which makes one think we are going to move on to Lee's left flank...Yesterday a match game of ball was played at the 6th Corps. H[ea]d Q[uarter]s between a party from the Harris Light Cavalry and a party belonging to the Jersey Brigade. The Jersey boys made 37 tallies, and H.L.C. 15 tallies, 9 innings each side..." On 3 May Grant ordered the Army of the Potomac to move across the Rapidan, against the right flank of the Army of Northern Virginia.

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[BASEBALL]. CIVIL WAR. BLANCHARD, HENRY. Autograph letter signed ("Henry") to his brother Horace, n.p., n.d., [Washington, D.C., 1 May 1864]. 2 full pages, 8vo, on lined stationery, lightly browned, with original envelope (stamp cut away). BASEBALL DURING THE CIVIL WAR. A Union soldier describes troop movements and a baseball game: "...We have received marching orders and probably by this time tomorrow we shall be on the banks of the Rapidan or away up towards Madison C.H. One year ago today...I was issuing ammunition out to the rebels on Salem Heights [Chancellorsville] one round at a time. I have no particular desire to get into another hornet's nest as that. But where duty calls we must go...I mentioned [General Ambrose Everett] Burnside's Corps... as being at Manassas Plains...The next day he marched down the Railroad relieving the 5th Army Corps as he came along with his coloured troops. He is now...at Rappahannock Station, unless he has moved today. The 5th Army Corps have been marching today in the direction of Culpepper which makes one think we are going to move on to Lee's left flank...Yesterday a match game of ball was played at the 6th Corps. H[ea]d Q[uarter]s between a party from the Harris Light Cavalry and a party belonging to the Jersey Brigade. The Jersey boys made 37 tallies, and H.L.C. 15 tallies, 9 innings each side..." On 3 May Grant ordered the Army of the Potomac to move across the Rapidan, against the right flank of the Army of Northern Virginia.