201
Prelude to the Turning Point of the War: Lee's Delayed Ammunition, on the Road to Gettysburg.
Currency:USD
Category:Collectibles
Start Price:237.00 USD
Estimated At:475.00 - 650.00 USD
NOT SOLD (BIDDING OVER)
0.00USD+ applicable fees & taxes.
This item WAS NOT SOLD. Auction date was 2016 Jan 05 @ 20:00UTC-5 : EST/CDT
Fascinating, thought-provoking A.L.S. of H.D. Whitcomb, (Supt.), "Office, Va. Central R.R. Co.," Richmond, June 20, 1863, 5 3/4 x 9, 2 full pp., penned in dark brown on mocha adversity lettersheet. To Dr. W.S. Morris, "Pres. &c." (of Southern Telegraph Co.). Casting light on the fatal shortage of Confederate ammunition which would impact the Battle of Gettysburg. On June 24 and 25, Lee crossed the Potomac with 80,000 men, preparing for the invasion of Pennsylvania. Whitcomb writes, "The relay at G- is most annoying to me. I am obliged by the exigencies of the horse to run my trains by telegraph West of G- and although I believe the operator does all he can, yet the most embarrassing delays occur. I must appeal to you to give us the through line even if you connect with Bg. when sending messages to that point...a switch or something of the sort. You do not know how much delay has occurred from this cause in the transportation of ammunition & other stores for Lee's Army. Besides this it causes us to use your line much more than we otherwise would, because the trains being detained make it necessary to move when trains moving in an opposite direction by telegraph, which would otherwise run by printed schedule. To avoid this uncertainty of the telegraph I have changed all my rules & will have the new system in operation in about a week. It will not be as satisfactory as the old...but it is far better than the present plan...It is the relay that I complain of and I really think that it should be avoided in some manner...." The Virginia Central endured repeated Union attacks, not only transporting men and ammunition, but helping stabilize the Confederate home front. Just five days after this letter, the Richmond Daily Dispatch reported, "Vegetables are becoming abundant and hucksters are losing control of the markets by the liberal supplies regularly brought in on the 'Virginia] Central Railroad, and sold in small quantities at the depot. Housekeepers should visit the depot and accrue supplies." The action never stopped: just a day later, one of Virginia Central's freight trains was fired on in Hanover County in "the Yankee raid towards Richmond"; the engineer reversed the train and escaped, but the Union gained control of the Road, cutting the telegraph wires, tearing up track, and destroying a bridge. (The Virginia Central rented some 300 slaves, some used as firemen and brakemen, but most in road gangs.) Whitcomb was, at various times, Virginia Central's Chief Engineer, Sec., Superintendent of Operations, General Supt., and Pres. One of their early locomotives was named for him, in 1856. Boasting a very long career, he appears as late as 1890 in The Official Railway Guide.... Uniform toning, light burn marks at two upper tips (from burning of Richmond?), else very good. Modern research accompanies. One may speculate on the degree to which the delays in delivery of "ammunition & other stores for Lee's Army," lamented in this letter, contributed to Lee's defeat at Gettysburg, marking the turning point of the war.
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| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
10,000.00 |
20.5% |
| 10,000.00 |
18,000.00 |
18% |
| 18,000.00 |
Infinite |
16% |
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