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SETH AMES was a justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Court, appointed by Gov. William Claflin in 1869. He resigned from the court on January 8, 1881, because of ill health. EBENEZER R. HOAR was an Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Court.
3 pp, 5 x 8, Longwood, Aug. 16, 1877, ALS, Ames makes a plea for his son, John W. Ames, a well decorated Civil War officer who was an avid abolitionist, and is hoping to find employment with the federal government in San Francisco. The younger Ames would die on April 6, 1878, less than a year after this letter was written.
Of his son, Seth Ames writes,
“My son, John W., is unfortunately out of business. Like many others, he suffered under the pressure of the times. You probably do not know him; therefore, I go into some detail. He graduated from Harvard in 1854, was afterwards educated as engineer, entered the regular army in 1861, served through the entire war in the army of the Potomac and in that of the James was in nearly all the great battles in Virginia & Pennsylvania, commanded a colored regiment – won several brevets (Major & Lt. Col. in the army & Brig Gen in the Volunteers) has brought away some scars & suffered a good deal in health and (though I say it) served with distinction and had an honorable record.
“After the war he resided for some years a Burlington, Iowa in the employment of the B & Missouri Railroad and upon the consolidation of that Co...he left & went to San Francisco, where he now resides.
“He has the impression that there will be vacancies among the U.S. officials in that part of the country to be filled & that his name, if suggested, might at least be considered. This is a matter in which I am very green indeed. He thinks that if you should feel inclined to give him a letter recommending him to the attention of Mr. Evarts or any other prominent and influential man at Washington, it would greatly strengthen the testimonials which he already has obtained.
“My certificate in his favor can hardly carry much weight – yet I will sa that you may rely upon it that he is a man worthy of attention and employment. My friends, the Ripleys and Bartletts know all about him and will back up all that I have said.
“The many courtesies that I have experienced from you have encouraged me to trouble you with what may not be entirely agreeable & so excuse me a& believe me your friend Seth Ames”
John W. Ames commanded the 6th United States Colored Infantry Regiment throughout the war. Of his reason for fighting, he said, “Slavery has brought death into our own households already in wicked rebellion. There is but one way to win the war and that is emancipation. I want to sing ‘John Brown’ in the streets of Charleston, and ram red-hot abolitionism down their unwilling throats at the point of the bayonet.’”
Ames and his regiment fought at Gettysburg, Richmond, the Battle of Gaines’ Mill, Chaffin’s Farm and the Wilmington campaigns.
Letter is in excellent condition.
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