Bidspirit auction | (LEVY, BENJAMIN). Autograph Letter Signed

(LEVY, BENJAMIN). Autograph Letter Signed by Lt. Col. Garrett Dyckman, written to Col. William Allen, commander of the First New York Infantry. Dyckman wants volunteer and infantry musician BENJAMIN LEVY cashiered from the service: “In regard to drummers we can take one or two more who can drum. The country boy you sent cannot learn. Neither can the Jew boy you enlisted here. I fear we will be obliged to have an examination and have them discharged.” Letter also contains interesting content relative to women, transportation, pensions, etc. Four pages. 8vo. Newport News, Va., 4th January, 1862. Fortunately Dyckman’s desire to remove Private Benjamin Levy did not come about for Levy became a Medal of Honor recipient for his later actions during the Battle of Glendale (Frayser's Farm) on 30th June 1862: “Private Levy, a drummer boy, took the gun of a sick comrade, went into the fight, and when the Color Bearers were shot down, carried the colors and saved them from capture.” See https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/247. Levy enlisted with the 1st New York Infantry Regiment from Newport News, Virginia in October 1861, and mustered out in May 1863. He re-enlisted with the 40th New York Infantry (Mozart Regiment) in January 1864 and was discharged due to disability in May 1865. Benjamin Levy (1845-1921) was the FIRST AMERICAN-JEW TO BE CITED FOR AND LATER RECEIVE THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. See www.jewish-history.com/civilwar/ben.html.