Lot 1
Dahlgren, John A., 1809-1870, Union admiral; personal friend of Abraham Lincoln; the "father of American naval ordnance"
A.L.S., signed Jno A Dahlgren, Rear Admiral, U.S.N., four pages, 4to., Washington, March 18, 1864. To B.B. French, Winfield Scott's Chief of Staff.
Letter of thanks for a poem written by French in tribute to Dahlgren’s son, Ulric, who lost his life in a failed rescue attempt of Union prisoners in Richmond. Dahlgren writes, in part: "His last letter to me, written just before setting out from the camp, expresses the conviction that the enterprise ‘if successful will be the grandest thing on record’ — calls it ‘a desperate undertaking’ and ends thus ‘I will write you more fully when we return — if we do not return there is no better place to give up the Ghost.’ And so he fell, as a gallant soldier of the great cause should fall, at the head of his men."
Dahlgren encloses a carte-de-visite photo of his son and notes "The enclosed photograph represents my son just before leaving, not recovered from the effects of losing his leg."
Also appended is the two-page poem written in French’s hand, March 10, 1864.
Minor mounting stains at left and on verso (French’s poem), Very Fine. Complete transcription available on request.
Estimate 3,000 - 4,000
Ulric Dahlgren’s ill-fated attempt to free Union prisoners from the prison camp at Belle Isle and from Libby prison was one of the Civil War’s most daring cavalry raids. The raid, which was conceived by the controversial General Judson Kilpatrick [the raid is sometimes referred to as Kilpatrick’s folly] was personally approved by Lincoln. Dahlgren, with a force of about 500 men, was to dart in, covered by diversions led by Generals Custer and Sedgwick and liberate the camps. Unfortunately, on the night of March 2, 1864, Dahlgren’s commando force was discovered by a sizable force of Confederates. Although he managed to escape, he was ambushed a second time about two hours later and killed. His men surrendered shortly thereafter. The Confederates allegedly searched his body and found a speech to his troops, written and signed by him, suggesting that Dahlagren intended to sack Richmond and assasinate Jefferson Davis. The Confederates published the text of this letter in a Richmond newspaper and General Meade, upon seeing the publication, promptly addressed a letter to General Lee disavowing any official knowledge of such a plan. Dahlgren died a full colonel at the age of 21.
|
| |
| Unsold |
