This is a group of items from the William H Smart Grand Army of the Republic Post 30 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Items included in the grouping are a compilation of letters written by William during his period in the military, a CDV of William Smart, two images of his sister Angela, a jeweler made medal for the President of the Women's Relief Corps Post 30 founded by Angela, a handwritten dedication to William Smart, wartime images of relatives of William Smart, the citizenship/naturalization form for Angela's husband Henry Scranton from 1889 and a framed photograph of the GAR Post 30 members of the Committee on the Excursion to Portland dated Sept 17th & 18th, 1884. Also included in the grouping is a plate and saucer with the GAR and WRC logo on them and a small leather bound jewelers box that housed the President's medal for the Women's Relief Corp. William S Smart was born in Vasselboro, Maine on 10 June, 1840. His family moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts when he was three years old. William lived in Cambridge until age 21, when he joined the Union Army as a private in Company G, Massachusetts Infantry on 23 may, 1861. His unit departed Cambridge on 15 June, 1861 for Manassas Junction. Private Smart was killed in action on 18 July, 1861 at Blackburn's Ford, Virginia during a skirmish prior to the First Battle of Bull Run. He was to be the first soldier from Cambridge, Massachusetts killed during the Civil War. The letters that Smart wrote to his family were transcribed into this small record book by his sister Angela. They describe the new daily life of Private Smart to his family members. The first is written 16 June, 1861 from Long Island Sound and is addressed to his brother. The front and back covers of the record book has become detached, but the content within is easily read. The CDV of young Private Smart is in very good condition. He is standing in a studio setting beside a wooden stand with a small pillar atop. Smart is dressed in uniform with waist belt and Pattern 1839 plate, cartridge box with sling and breast plate, cap box, kepi and holding a musket with fixed bayonet. The CDV is back marked Photographed by Metcalf & Harley, Opposite City Hall, Cambridgeport. The two images of his sister Angela are of a tintype and an ambrotype. The tintype appears to be of Civil War period, the ambrotype a little earlier. The President of the Women's Relief Corps is in excellent condition. This organization was formed in 1883, and Smart's sister founded a chapter in Cambridge in her brothers name. Also included in the large riker case is a small pair of white gloves with a small medallion that reads Past President Ladies of GAR. I'm sure this was a decoration that was worn by Angela after her tenure as President of the Women's Relief Corps. A tintype of two of Smart's relatives in uniform is also included in the riker case. They are both wearing sack coats with Corporals stripes sewn on, but there is no identification on the image. The framed image of the GAR Post 30 members measures 29 1/2" wide and 23 1/2" tall. The matting around the image has some water damage, but the image itself is in very good condition. It contains eight members of the William H Smart GAR Post 30 of Cambridge, Massachusetts that were representative of that post to the "Excursion to Portland" held on September 17th & 18th, 1884. The individual names are written in period ink at the bottom of the photograph. In all, this is a very nice grouping of personal items of William H Smart, his sister Angela, and the GAR Post that was named after the first soldier killed in action from Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Item # AA2948

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