Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

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United States and Confederate States Postal History continued...

Confederate Autographs incl. Davis, Lee and Jackson

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

2100

Jefferson Davis. 3-page letter penned in Davis's hand (unsigned), datelined "Beauvoir, 26th May (1879)" to Confederate General Edward C. Walthall, docketed on back "Pres. Davis Memo for Gen. Hood 26 May 1879", contents relate to a recently published book by the late General Richard Taylor (son of Zachary Taylor) about the Tennessee campaign in 1864, full transcript included

VERY FINE POST-WAR LETTER FROM CONFEDERATE PRESIDENT JEFFERSON DAVIS DISCUSSING GENERAL JOHN BELL HOOD AND THE 1864 FRANKLIN-NASHVILLE CAMPAIGN.

This letter contains fascinating content by President Davis critiquing General Taylor's book and asks that General Walthall tell General Hood that he had recently called but failed to find him. In relation to the failed campaign against William Tecumseh Sherman's army, Davis states "So I told you when the matter passed beyond the stage at which the pursuit of Sherman was feasible, I was one of those who wished more than was expected from the invasion of Tennessee and objected to the tone of unmeasured censure heaped upon it after the failure." (Image)

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E. $ 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $1,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

2101

Jefferson Davis. 2-1/2-page letter on Confederate States of America Executive Department stationery, dated October 17, 1862, addressed to General Braxton Bragg and signed "your's Jefferson Davis", wonderful content congratulating Bragg for his service in Kentucky and continuing with an analysis of the military situation, stating his hope that the enemy could be driven from the C.S.A. interior before all the resources of his country declined, and that Kentucky "will prove worthy of our love and her own proud traditions"

VERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING CIVIL WAR LETTER FROM CONFEDERATE PRESIDENT JEFFERSON DAVIS TO ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE COMMANDER, GENERAL BRAXTON BRAGG, IN THE AFTERMATH OF HIS 1862 KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN.

This letter was written just after the Battle of Perryville, which was the culmination of the Confederate Heartland Offensive, or Kentucky Campaign. Bragg won a tactical victory against Union General Don Carlos Buell's Army of the Ohio, but withdrew to Tennessee soon thereafter. The Union retained control of Kentucky thereafter for the remainder of the War. (Image)

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E. $ 3,000-4,000

SOLD for $5,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

2102

Jefferson Davis. Folded cover faintly addressed "Private for President Davis, Richmond Virginia", franked with 10c Blue, Die B (12), entire front with writing by Davis lamenting that "hostile parties have the power to blacken the good name of our officer by secret aspersion of him to me", "JD" initials on stamp and dated "29 Dec. '64", this was written shortly before General Hood resigned as commander of the Army of the Tennessee, replaced by General Richard Taylor (Image)
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E. $ 300-400

SOLD for $1,200.00
Will close during Public Auction

2103

Robert E. Lee. One-page autograph letter signed "R E Lee" and datelined "Near Petersburg 19 Decr '64", to Miss Lucy Minnegerode, a young family acquaintance of General Lee's, some splitting along horizontal fold, otherwise in excellent condition

A REMARKABLE WARTIME LETTER FROM CONFEDERATE GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE, REVEALING HIS REMARKABLE COMPASSION AND SYMPATHY FOR THE GREAT PERSONAL LOSS AND SUFFERING OF SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

The letter reads: "Near Petersburg 19 Decr '64

My dear Miss Lucy

I have just recd your note of the 17th Inst., requesting a leave of absence for Mr. Leigh Robinson, in order that he may spend Xmas with you. It will give me peculiar pleasure to comply with your wishes in this instance & I hope nothing will occur to prevent his leaving his Compy. Every indulgence should be accorded, compatible with the interest of the Service, to one whose sacrifice to his Country has been so great. Yet how happy are his noble brothers in their quiet bed, side by side! Who can wish them back to this life of trial & adversity? I did see your sorrow my Sweet Child on the Sunday you refer to. I knew the Cause & my grief was mingled with yours. The death of every man in this army cuts me to the heart. May God in his great mercy receive those appointed to die, & may he take you & all yours in his holy keeping.

Very truly yours

R E Lee

Lucy Minnegerode was the young daughter of Reverend Charles Minnegerode, the rector of St. Paul's Church in Richmond, and a social acquaintance of the Lee family. The subject of General Lee's and Lucy's correspondence, Leigh Robinson, was the son of Conway Robinson and Susan Selden Leigh, family friends of the Minnegerodes. Leigh's two brothers were killed in action prior to this exchange of letters: William Colston Robinson on Oct. 14 1863, at the Battle of Bristoe Station, and Cary Robinson on October 27, 1864, near Boydtown Plank Road. General Lee's reference to Lucy's sorrow is tied to her friend Cary's death, and his rhetorical question, "Yet how happy are his noble brothers in their quiet bed, side by side! Who can wish them back to this life of trial & adversity?," is a direct reference to Leigh's two fallen brothers. By granting Lucy's request, General Lee showed remarkable compassion, and he reveals his great emotional pain over the loss of his beloved troops after years of war. Four months after writing this letter, General Lee would offer his sword to General Grant at Appomattox. (Image)

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E. $ 15,000-20,000

SOLD for $27,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

2104

Robert E. Lee. Small narrow cover addressed entirely in Lee's hand to his daughter-in-law "Mrs. Wm. H. Fitzhugh Lee, White House, Tungstall's Depot, R. & York river R.R., New Kent Co., Virginia", 5c Green, Stone 1 (1), full to ample margins, tied by part strike of "Richmond Va. Jan. 3" (1862) circular datestamp, sealed tear across bottom left corner of stamp (nearly invisible), slight toning

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE CONFEDERATE STAMPED COVER ADDRESSED BY GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE TO HIS DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, CHARLOTTE, AT WHITE HOUSE, THE FAMILY ESTATE IN VIRGINIA AND FORMER RESIDENCE OF GEORGE AND MARTHA WASHINGTON. MONTHS LATER, IN MAY 1862, THE ESTATE WAS TAKEN OVER BY UNION GENERAL McCLELLAN AND USED AS HIS HEADQUARTERS.

White House, the first home of George and Martha Washington, was inherited by William H. Fitzhugh Lee, son of General Robert E. Lee. In March 1862, two months after this cover was mailed, General Lee wrote to his wife, who was staying at White House, expressing his concern that the property might become too dangerous to inhabit. Two months after that, Lee's concern proved prescient, as McClellan's army move into Virginia's Tidewater region and captured White House, turning it into McClellan's headquarters. (Image)

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E. $ 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $4,750.00
Will close during Public Auction

2105

Pierre Goustave Toutant Beauregard. Long docketing in his hand and signed "G. T. Beauregard", datelined "Charlotte N.C. March 3/65", contents discuss furlough request from 8th Texas Cavalry that will "go into effect as soon as the present emergency permits", some erased pencil notations, still Very Fine, late use, Beauregard and Johnston met with Jefferson Davis on April 13 to convince him the war needed to end and he was part of Johnston's surrender to Sherman near Durham N.C. on April 26, 1865, less than two months after this was written (Image)

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E. $ 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $650.00
Will close during Public Auction

2106

Pierre Goustave Toutant Beauregard. 4-page autograph letter signed "G. T. Beauregard" and datelined "New York Oct. 2, 1878", addressed to General Ruggles and defending his actions at the Battle of Shiloh, incl. "Colonel Johnston even oversteps the period of his biography in order to contend that our failure to carry Grant's position...was due to my recall of the troops. This stale story which originated in an intrigue against me he revamps and enlarges...", other interesting contents relating to the battle, few negligible toned spots, Very Fine, fascinating contents (Image)

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E. $ 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $800.00
Will close during Public Auction

2107

Pierre Goustave Toutant Beauregard. Signed docketing in his hand "Belle Fair Mills Va., 18th June 61Rec'd. Gen'l Beauregard. Requesting a pass on the R.R. & offering his son's services", fresh and Very Fine (Image)

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E. $ 200-300

SOLD for $350.00
Will close during Public Auction

2108

Braxton Bragg. 2-page autograph letter signed "Braxton Bragg", datelined at New Orleans on Jan. 31, 1868, contents incl. personal extract from his journal regarding his position during the Battle of Chaplin Hills at Perryville Ky. on Oct. 8, 1862, Very Fine (Image)

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E. $ 500-750

SOLD for $425.00
Will close during Public Auction

2109

Braxton Bragg. Signature "Braxton Bragg Genl. Comdg." at bottom of two-page accounting of number of men and generals and deficits for Army of Mississippi (Hardee), Army of West (Price) and a few others, Very Fine, interesting document apparently circa July 1862 (Image)

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E. $ 300-400

SOLD for $450.00
Will close during Public Auction

2110

(Braxton Bragg). Broadside/circular with "Head Quarters, Department, No. 2. Glasgow, KY, Sept. 14, 1862", notice offers residents the chance to join and "we come not as conquerors or as despoilers, but to restore to you the liberties of which you have been deprived by a cruel and relentless foe", light folds, Very Fine and interesting piece of war propaganda (Image)

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E. $ 200-300

SOLD for $1,300.00
Will close during Public Auction