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        VIRGINIA GOLD RUSH

RFG-926. Civil War Gold Rush Letter, Alexandria, VA 26-Jun 1861

This is a handwritten letter from J.W. Casto, a Union soldier, to his cousin in Concord Massachusetts. This soldier was gold mining on his weekends while stationed at Camp Andrew near Alexandria, Virginia.  J.W. Casto, was a volunteer from Massachusetts in the 5th Regiment Infantry (three month Militia). His regiment tendered services to the government April 15, 1861, leaving the state for Washington, D.C., April 21, and then traveling to Virginia on May 1st where they camped near Alexandria May 25. They were on Duty at Camp Andrew until July 16.

This letter was written June 26th, 1861 from “Camp Massachusetts, Alexandria”, which is what we believe the Massachusetts volunteers called their camp. We know from Civil War historical data, that his regiment was at Camp Andrew at the time, but have been unable to pinpoint the exact location of Camp Andrew in a web search. Fredericksburg, Virginia is situated on the Rappahannock River approximately fifty miles south of Alexandria. The Rappahannock and its tributaries are well known sources of gold with a number of mines in production prior to the Civil War. Camp Andrew, described as “near Alexandria” was probably located on one of these ore rich tributaries.

The 5th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers have been linked to Franklin's Brigade, Heintzelman's Division, McDowell's Army of Northeast Virginia, the Advance on Manassas, Va., July 16-21and the Battle of Bull Run July 21. According to Civil War historical data, they were ordered to Boston July 29, and mustered out August 1, 1861.

This is the first Civil War Gold Rush letter known to the author and reads, “Gold. Gold! Oh my you ought to have seen us today. Instead of drilling as we usually do we went to digging gold as we have discovered that there is gold around this bump. Our camp is situated on a very rising piece of ground and a beautiful little creek runs below us on the west. In this creek we have discovered gold.”  The original cover is included. Extremely Fine. $750.