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Confederate Courier Robert P. McPheeters

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:600.00 - 800.00 USD
Confederate Courier Robert P. McPheeters

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Auction Date:2014 Apr 16 @ 18:00 (UTC-05:00 : 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
Young Confederate courier (1845–1921). ALS signed “Bobbie,” eight pages, lightly-lined on two sets of adjoining sheets, 5 x 8, May 9 and 11, 1864. Letter to his aunt regarding the bloody Spotsylvania Virginia Campaign of May 1864, penned on the 9th in ink and 11th in pencil. In part: “Our army is still fighting some yet. The 1st Virginia Cavalry passed here on to the front this morning, and soon after we heard cannon. I suppose they were fighting. The cannon are firing now. I don’t think we will move today. None of our battalion is hurt yet. One horse wounded…I send you some tobacco that was got out of a Yankee’s knapsack…some of the boys get a great many things from the Yanks, but I don’t feel like risking my life for nothing because maybe I will get enough of the bullets without going in for plunder…Since I wrote last I have seen terrible times. Went on courier yesterday morning, and on our relay I heard the first bullets whistle. We went down about the middle of our lines to Gen. Ewell’s headquarters and the Yankees shelled our men, some while I was there. We were about 100 yards from our line at a house but they were not long before they sent one to Gen. Early…[he] was sent to head them with a portion of A. P. Hill’s command. Hill’s Division and I rode about 10 miles around and found him just fixing his men in line of battle. I gave him the dispatch and he read and told me to stay with him awhile, so I followed him in. He lead the sharpshooters and the minnie balls rattled around us like hail, but drove the Yankees our of a thick piece of woods and they took a position on one hill and our men on the other, and commenced shelling each other. Now Bobbie got a little scared for the Yanks throw grapeshot and shell, but our men drove them back so Old Jubal sent me back with the news to Lee, and that was at two o’clock. I hardly got back here until the shells commenced coming like fury and made the air hideous with their noise and the ground fairly shook. Some of the shells came very close, but most went over us into a piece of woods behind us. One shell struck within 15 feet of Gen. Lee and went down in through the garden where we were and just missed a horse, and one minnie struck a peach tree just over our heads and hit Gen. Lee’s horse’s saddle, but did not go in. They shelled us until near dark, and then charged our breastworks and ran our men out without more than 100 guns fired on our side. But if it had not been that Gen. Lee was so close and rallied our men, the day would have been lost and dear knows what would of been the consequence, as that was the middle of our lines. Gen. Lee rode up and down the line rallying our troops not more than 50 yards from the Yankees. I look for him to fall every minute. Col. Taylor had his horse wounded under him twice and the shells and minnie balls flew thick as hail. Oh, it was an awful time…but our men took the works again and also a stand of colors and killed a Yankee General between our two lines. Our loss was not much compared with the times…This is the 7th or 8th day of the fight…Some old soldier said yesterday evening’s fight was the hottest they ever was in. I hope the fight will be over soon.” In fine condition, with a few small edge tears and creases.

While countless articles, books, and analyses have been written regarding the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, this outstanding firsthand account by Lee’s courier provides an entirely new perspective on the general’s actions at the ‘horseshoe.’ Placing him at the center of the action, riding up and down the line, fearlessly rallying the troops under intense gunfire, it gives previously undocumented detail into his location and behavior during the fight. A remarkable and highly important new look at the awe-inspiring General Lee.