NOT SOLD (BIDDING OVER)
0.00USD+ applicable fees & taxes.
This item WAS NOT SOLD. Auction date was 2002 Jun 25 @ 10:00UTC-08:00 : PST/AKDT
A facinating group of approximately 70 letterpress copies of correspodence sent by JAMES HAMILTON, the Adjutant Inspector General for the Confederate Governor of Mississippi in 1861 and 1862 bound into a cloth covered large 4to. book bearing the title "Letters Adjutant General Army of Miss." Althouth the pagination indicates that much of the original book is now missing, the 70 remaining copies provide a revealing look into the activies of this branch of the Governor's office during the first years of the Civil War. The tone of the early letters in the series reveal the early public optimism concerning the war. In a letter dated Mar. 4, 1861 to future Brigadier General M.P. Lowry (1828 - 1885), Hamilton writes: "...The Governor takes great pleaure in assuring you that throughout the enitre limits of the state the gallant sons of Mississippi are fair hurrying to arms, and should twice seven thousand men have been called for, the number could easily have been raised...All commissions to company and field officers issue from this department only, staff & appointed officers receive commissions from the Confederate States. Your regiment will be numbered & your marching orders issued & transportation given from this department...". In addition to matters of recruitment, some of the correspondence also dals with the Governor's involvement with actual military matters in the field as in this letter of Mar. 30, 1862 to the mayor of Mobile, Ala. in resondese to the Mayor's request of assitence in the enent of invasion and reads in part: "...The governor directs me to say that he is at present unable to say positively to what extent he can assist you in case of an attack upon your city, but when you are, or if he is advised of a probably attack upon you, he will render you all the assistance in his power. Genls. Beauregard & Bragg are calling for troops for the defense of our Northern border, [to face Grant near Shiloh and Corinth], and companies as soon as organized are turned over to them. The companies in Meridian at present have been mustered into Confederate service, and may be ordered North at any time..." This letter also points out one of the peculiarities of the Confederate mustering system. Until officially mustered into the Confederate service, units were apparently still considered militia, and therefore still subject to the orders of the Governors of their comparative states. A small part of the correspondence also concerns how to keep valuable property, particularly cotton, from falling into enemy hands, as the following letter demonstrates, in part: "...May 6, 1862…to B.W. Morris., Sardis, MS. [Near Oxford and Corinth]…should the enemy reach Memphis or any point where the cotton you refer to would be in danger of falling into their hands it must be BURNT…if it will cost you but little get it out of the way of the enemy if you can , and if you do not burn it no matter whose it is …" As the war progressed, the nature of the correspondence began to deal almost exclusively with draft avoidence issues as illustrated in this response to a doctor dated May 6, 1862: "...the petition sent by the ladies in your neighborhood requested your exemption from military service under state law. The prayer of that petition was granted. The conscript law [however] acts differently and state authorities have no control whatever over those liable to military service under the law…I advise you therefore, Doctor, to remain at your post till the Governor shall be advised from Richmond ….TIS YOU DUTY…." Even Indians were subject to conscription, as this May 6, 1862 letter illustrates"...to Richard McGraw, of the Choctaw Indian Agency, Mississippi….Your communication & petition came duly at hand. His excellently regrets not being able to grant your request. The conscript law as passed by congress has taken control over those between 18 and 30 years of age away from the state authorities…". In summary, it can be stated that while the book contains copies of the correspondence and not the original letters sent , the vast majority of the original letters, being sent into the field, are likely lost to us forever, making these copies the only records we have of the ongoing wartime activities of the Adjutant General. Original binding , with front cover clearly marked "Letters, Adjutant General, Army of Miss'", present but with contents loose, overall contents are in just good condition, but are the best, if only, copies available.
Auction Location:
United States
Additional Fees:
Shipping Details:
No Info Available
Payment Details:
No Info Available
<p>1.) This is a combination Mail, Phone and Fax Bid and Live Bid Auction and is conducted under the laws of the States of New York and Connecticut.
<p>2.) This auction will be held in two parts. Part I (Lots 1-426) will begin at 1:00 PM Eastern Time on Tuesday, June 25, 2002. Part II (Lots 500-1279) will begin at Noon Eastern Time on Wednesday, June 26, 2002. However, you may bid at any time prior to the sale dates.
<p>3.) There is a 17.5% Buyer's Premium charged on the final hammer price of each lot.
<p>4.) The Auctioneer reserves the right to reject any bid for any reason.
<p>5.) The Auctioneer reserves the right to withdraw any lot for any reason.
<p>6.) In the event of duplicate high bids, the earliest bid received will be the winner.
<p>7.) Some lots may carry a reserve beneath which the item will not be sold.
<p>8.) Detailed descriptions of lots and photocopies are available upon request.
<p>9.) Illustrations of lots in this catalog and our web site may have had size and/or contrast modifications for display purposes.
<p>10.) Estimated selling prices are for your guidance only. Actual selling prices may be higher or lower than the estimate indicated.
<p>11.) The placing of a bid legally binds the bidder to purchase the lot at or below the bid placed, plus buyer's premium (see item 3). Bids may not be retracted without our approval. Please think before you bid! You are legally bound once you bid.
<p>12.) Absentee Bidding: All bidding is undertaken in a competitive manner. The winning bid will always be one bidding increment over the second highest bid. The minimum acceptable bid for any lot is one-half of the low estimate given in the item description or $15.00, whichever is greater. Bidders may call at any time to check the status of their bids. Live Bidding: Bids entered during the course of the sale by bidders on the floor, on the phone or live on the internet will be taken at the amount bid.
<p>13.) Payment is expected immediately upon receipt of invoice. All accounts are payable to Alexander Autographs, Inc. Payment must be made in U.S. funds. Wire transfer details are available upon request. Please note that lots purchased are subject to sales taxes where applicable unless a resale number is filed with us prior to the auction. Invoices not paid within thirty days of the date of invoice will incur a 1.5% per month late payment fee.
<p>14.) Shipment is made via U.S. Postal Service and UPS unless otherwise instructed. Handling, shipping and insurance charges will be added to the invoice.
<p>15.) All material in this sale is guaranteed genuine (unless otherwise stated) to the original buyer. Any item sold which is determined to be not authentic by two independent authenticators acceptable to both parties to the sale may be returned by the original buyer at any time for an immediate refund of the purchase price (only).
<p>16.) Items may also be returned if the catalog description differs significantly from the item's actual condition; such returns must be made within three (3) days of purchaser's receipt of the lot(s). All returned lots must be in the same condition as shipped. All items are in very good condition unless stated otherwise. Items housed in frames have not been examined outside of the frame. Lots which bear defects or damage not visible because of framing will not be subject to return.
<p>17.) The placing of a bid shall constitute acceptance of the preceding terms and conditions of sale. No auction results will be
available until June 28, 2002!
<p>19.) Absentee bids must be received by us one hour prior to the commencement of each sale.
<p>Bidding Increments
$15-100 $5.00
$100-300 $10.00
$300-500 $20.00
$500-1,000 $50.00
$1,000-3,000 $100
$3,000-5,000 $250
$5,000-10,000 $500
$10,000+ $1,000