“The Civil War Letters of Alonzo Bump” – Presentation on Sept. 26

BALLSTON SPA — The Saratoga County History Center sponsors a presentation on the Civil War letters of Saratoga County resident, Alonzo Bump, by David Handy, author of the recently released book “Theas Few Lines: The Civil War Letters of Private Alonzo D. Bump, 77th New York State Voluntary Infantry,” at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26 at Brookside Museum.

The letters, compiled in part from the collection of the History Center at Brookside Museum, provides a rich account of the experience of an upstate New Yorker who left home to fight for the Union during the American Civil War.  

Alonzo D. Bump lived in the thriving cotton mill community at Victory, the home of the Saratoga Victory Manufacturing Company where he was employed as a weaver.  With the desire to, “go down to see the world,” Alonzo left behind his wife Mary and his three-year-old daughter Mattie.  Private Bump’s letters were primarily written to Mary, though a few were directed to his mother, mother-in-law, and his two sisters-in-law.

Books will be available for signing, and pre-registration is required at brooksidemuseum.org.