This is an auction catalog preview and more information is forthcoming. 

"The mighty and stupendous struggle which convulsed a world has passed
The crimson curtain of war has fallen, the ominous bell of fate has tolled, and the bloody drama of four years has ended."

A collection of three (3) items relating to Dr. Hiram W. Harding (1838–1911), who served in Company D, 9th Virginia Cavalry of the Confederacy.

Born and raised in Virginia, Harding studied medicine at the University of Maryland, graduating in 1860, before returning to Northumberland County to begin his practice. During the Civil War, he entered Confederate service with the 9th Virginia Cavalry, and after the conflict he resumed his medical career in Northumberland County. Beyond his profession, Harding became deeply involved in Masonic life in Virginia’s Northern Neck. At his death in 1911, the Masons erected a monument in his honor. Contemporary newspaper accounts remembered him as a well-known and beloved citizen. 

This grouping includes: 

1. Diary of the War Autograph diary of Dr. Hiram W. Harding, Co. D 9th Virginia Calvary. March 4th 1863- April 30th 1865. Approximately 101 pages. Originally leather bound. Pages completely loose from binding. Some pages are individually loose. 

Leather imprint to cover “Stephen S. Lee & Co.” and gilt flourishes near the latch. Calendar of 1855 pasted to inside front cover. Publishers emblem pasted to inside back cover. Inscription to title page: “Hiram W Harding M.S / Edge Hill.”

A detailed journal kept by Confederate soldier Dr. Hiram W. Harding (1838–1911), recording his wartime experiences from 1863 to 1865. The volume presents day-by-day accounts of the marches and actions of Company D, 9th Virginia Cavalry, but its most striking passages are Harding’s more reflective and philosophical observations on the conflict.

He begins the journal with a retrospective summary of the war, likely penned after the daily entries, in which he meditates on its bloody character. Yet such realizations are not confined to later reflection, they are also woven throughout his contemporary entries. On one of his earliest days in service, Harding wrote: “June 21st. Sunday morning. Instead of our ears being greeted by the sound of church bells inviting us to march to the house of God to spend the day quietly worshiping him. The sound of the Bugle is heard calling us to arms, to spend the Lord’s day in deadly conflict.”

Harding's entries detail many encounters with Union soldiers, all unfavorable. After leaving Confederate lines to rest at his Uncle's house, Harding was nearly detained by Union soldiers who entered the home of his family, searching the house for Harding's nephew and questioning Harding himself on his involvement in the Confederacy. After searching in vein for his kin, Harding writes that "they went out to Uncle's stable, took all his horses and mules then left...they came, searched the house all over for us; took Father's horses and mules and then left. This party belonged to the 8th Illinois Cavalry." A shocking and detailed example of Union conduct, dated 4 March 1863. 

Harding documents a great many historical moments throughout the war. On 10 May 1863, Harding received news that the infamous General 'Stonewall' Jackson had been killed in battle, of which Harding remarked: "Our great T.J. Jackson died today. In loosing him we or our cause has lost one of our greatest and best men. But we cannot see through the mysteries of God and ought to be resigned to his will."  

Company D of the 9th Virginia Cavalry participated in the Battle of Gettysburg, which Harding recounts in his retrospective analysis of the conflict"...to the hostile plains of distant Gettysburg, on whose green and sloping fields was enacted one of the most magnificent scenes ever witnessed in the bloody arena of war." Though, his entry dated 3 July 1863, of when Harding would have been engaged in the famous conflict, only states "Fighting tremendously at Gettysburg. The severest cannonading I have ever heard."

Harding’s record continues past the Confederate surrender and subsequent end of the war, with entries dated April 18 and April 24, 1865, in which he comments on the assassination of President Lincoln:

"April 18th, Heard Lincoln was assassinated on the 14th and Steward in a critical condition./ April 24th, Yankee Cavalry came in this Country in pursuit of Booth who killed Lincoln." 

Note: More information regarding this diary is forthcoming. Please email info@fleischersauctions.com with any questions.

2. Sixth plate bust view studio portrait daguerreotype. N.p. n.d. Half leatherette case and brass matting. 

A bust view of Hiram W. Harding dressed in a fine suit and neck tie. His hair is neatly combed to one side and his gaze is directed quite seriously at the photographer’s lens. This photograph likely dates to Harding's time in medical school. 

3. Outdoor boudoir card albumen etching. N.p.n.d. Broken corner to right of card. 

Albumen etching of a plantation. Likely related to the Harding family. 

[Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Manuscripts, Documents, Letters, Ephemera, Signatures, Autographs][Ephemera, Pamphlets, Publications, Booklets] [Books, Bibles, Soldiers' Bibles, Prayer Books, Ephemera, Pamphlets, Publications, Booklets, Memoirs][Photography, Early Photography, Historic Photography, Daguerreotypes, Ambrotypes, Tintypes, Cased Images, Union Cases, Albumen Photographs, CDVs, Carte de Visites, Cartes de Visite, Carte-de-visite, Cartes-de-visite, CDV, Cabinet Cards, Stereoviews, Stereocards]