Lot 1089
Stoneman, General George (1822-1894), U.S. Army officer, Union cavalry general in the Civil War, 15th Governor of California (1883-1887).
Autograph letter signed "George Stoneman, Maj. Genl, Pr. of War", 15½" x 10¼", two pages (on opposite sides of the same leaf), September 16, 1864, Military Prison Charleston S.C.; letter is to the Adjutant of the Sanitary Commission, Hiton Head, S.C., in part "If you have any stores or clothing in hand for distribution our poor fellows here, many of whom are entirely destitute, would be most happy to receive them, and I know of no way in which the generosity of their relatives and friends can be better applied than in relieving the unfortunate Federal prisoners now confined in this city. Should you think proper to make me your agent, I will see that every thing is properly applied, and that the most needy and destitute are first suplied, which is not always the case."; slight browning on first page of letter, couple small holes, not affecting text, Fine. Professionally framed to 21½" x 15½" (open on both sides to display both sides of letter), and hung on a larger display frame containing a colored portrait, a colored view of Roper Hospital (?) and a black and white print of both sides of the letter, overall 28½" x 34½".
Estimate $4,000 - 5,000
Expertization: Kenneth Laurence COA.
Stoneman was captured during a July 1864 attempt to free Union prisoners from the infamous prison at Andersonville, S.C. In September, in order to prevent Union bombardment of the city of Charleston, he and 600 fellow prisoners were moved to confinement at Roper Hospital in the center of town. In retaliation 600 Confederate prisoners were moved to Morris Island, which was under fire from Confederate cannons. As a result, both sides halted their bombardment. In October 1864 Stoneman was an exchange prisoner and the next month joined Sherman on his "march to the sea".
General Stoneman was immortalized in the lines from the popular song, "The Night They Drove Ol' Dixie Down" by Robbie Robertson of The Band: "Virgil Cain is my name and I served on the Danville train Til Stonman's cavalry came and tore up the track again", depicting the General's role in disrupting Confederate transportation.
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| Realized $3,000 |
