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Charleston Harbor

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:10,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD
Charleston Harbor

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Auction Date:2016 Mar 09 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Original manuscript account of the controversial career of Brigadier General Henry Washington Benham, with his own perspective on the “James Island Affair,” several hundred pages bound in two volumes, together with a large government survey map of Charleston Harbor showing James Island and Secessionville; also includes three manuscript leaves of military assessment by Benham’s son, Henry Hill Benham, and a photograph of General Benham in uniform.

The manuscript describes Benham’s career in the military with a focus on the Civil War era, and is illustrated with three intricately hand-drawn maps. In 1861, Benham was appointed as chief engineer of the Department of the Ohio and participated in McClellan’s West Virginia campaign. He led an advance guard in pursuit of Confederate General Robert Garnett to Corrick’s Ford, where Garnett was killed. Promoted to brigadier general, Benham took part in the campaign against Robert E. Lee and commanded the leading brigade in the battle at Carnifex Ferry in September 1861. On June 16, 1862, Benham led an unsuccessful attack against Confederate forces in Secessionville, South Carolina, in what is known as the ‘James Island Affair.’ He was relieved of his command by General David Hunter and charged with disobeying orders. Benham lost his rank over the matter and requested a Court of Inquiry to restore his reputation.

The large map included with the manuscript, framed to an overall size of 32 x 36, is heavily annotated with the lines of battle sketched in and containing a manuscript account of orders issued and obeyed; it seems likely that this was used as an exhibit in the inquiry. In the end, he was exonerated and reinstated by President Lincoln. Additionally included are a salt-print photograph of Benham and three pages written by his son on the condition of uniforms and material of French troops at Vincennes, sometime between 1893–97, when he served as quartermaster of the Second Infantry. In overall very good to fine condition, with ink quite blurred with words over-written in critical passages and many sections difficult to decipher, and expert restoration to original bindings; map has early paper repairs to folds on the reverse.