 |
Sale 265
Lot 88
Lee, Robert Edward (1807-1870)., Commander in Chief of the Confederate Armies (1861-1865).
LS, 7¾" x 10", 1½pp. [two sides of same leaf], Head Quarters Dept. N. Va., 23 June 1862, as Commander in Chief of the Confederate Armies. In full:
"The General Commanding announces with great satisfaction to the Army, the brilliant exploit of Brig. General J.E.B. Stuart, with part of the troops under his command. This gallant Officer with portions of the 1st 4th & 9th Va. Cavalry, a part of Jeff Davis legion with whom were the Boykin Rangers and a section of the Stuart Horse artillery in the 13th, 14th, 15th of June, made a reconnaissance between the Pamunkey succeeded in passing around the rear of the whole Federal Army, routing the enemy in a series of skirmishes, taking a number of prisoners, and destroying and capturing stores to a large amount. Having most successfully accomplished in object, in the presence of the enemy, with the same coolness and address that marked every step of its progress, and with the loss of but one man, the lamented Captain Latane of the 9th Va. Cavalry, who fell bravely leading a successful charge against a superior force [second page] of the enemy.
"In announcing this signal success to the Army, the general Commanding takes great pleasure in expressing his admiration of the courage and skill so conspicuously exhibited throughout by the General and the Officers and men under his command.
"In addition to the Officers honorably mentioned in the report of the expedition, the conduct of the following Privates has received the special commendation of their respective commanders Private Thos. D. Clapp Company D 1st Va. Cavalry; and J.S. Mosby serving with the same Regiment, Private Ashton Brent, R. Herring, T. Herring and F. Coleman Company E. 9th Va. Cavalry."
[signed] "R E Lee/ Genl"
Double-matted and framed in a 14" x 16" frame which is open on both sides for viewing and has been hinged to the front of a matching 36" x 26" frame over a recounting of Stuart's "Ride Around McClellan", and next to a map of the expedition and brass medallions of Stuart and Lee above engraved name plaques. A gorgeous display of a superb and very important document which is most likely unique.
Estimate 40,000 - 50,000
In this outstanding document, Lee faithfully recounts General Stuart's now legendary "Ride Around McClellan". Though the expedition was prosecuted further than had been contemplated by General Lee, its daringness, notably the fact that a numerically inferior force had been thrown on a long front against an entrenched foe with greatly superior artillery--not to mention its success--made a national icon of the charismatic 29-year-old Stuart. General Longstreet, commander of the Confederate Army's First Corps, had this to say in his memoirs From Manassas to Appomattox: "(It) was one of the most graceful and daring rides known to military history, and revealed valuable facts concerning the situation of the Union forces, their operations, communications, etc. When congratulated upon his success, General Stuart replied, with a lurking twinkle in his eye, that he had left a general behind him. Asked as to the identity of the unfortunate person, he said, with his joyful laugh, 'General Consternation.'" The historical sting-in-the tail was that Stuart's ride may also have sown the seeds for Confederate defeat at Gettysburg a year later. With Lee's subsequent idolization, what may have earlier been interpreted as benign self-confidence was increasingly replaced by insubordination and reckless complacency. A year later, as Lee pressed into Pennsylvania, he would be in urgent need of information, but Stuart would be off on another of his protracted sorties. The upshot was that Lee would be driven to fight the battle of Gettysburg without sufficient intelligence from his cavalry, a short-coming many historians attribute to Lee's poor display in one of the decisive battles of the civil war.
|
| |
| Realized $57,500 |
|
