540

FRAZER, JOHN WESLEY

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:750.00 USD Estimated At:1,500.00 - 2,000.00 USD
FRAZER, JOHN WESLEY
<b>540. JOHN WESLEY FRAZER </b>(1827-1906) Confederate brigadier general who after fortifying Cumberland Gap, surrendered it unconditionally to Burnside following the fall of Knoxville. Excessively rare war-date A.L.S. "<i>J. W. Frazer</i>" written while prisoner of war, 4pp. 8vo., "<i>Fort Warren, Boston Harbor</i>", Nov. 4, 1864 to his sister. Frazer pens this letter fourteen months after his capture by Burnside near Chattanooga, in part: <i>"...I fear I should be somewhat ennuied, as my roommates are not particularly entertaining...Genl. [Isaac] Trimble is engaged in writing poetry to a young miss, Genl. [William N. R.] Beall gazing at the carte de visite of his Dulcinea, and Genl. [John R.] Jones is endeavoring to make up last night's losses caused by Genl. T. and myself...there was no opportunity of notifying you of my departure from J[ohnson's] I[sland]...Genl. B. has applied to have his nephew transferred to this point...please tell me all you know about home-folks...hopes of a speedy exchange are rapidly diminishing...</i>". Much more. Numerous ink blots affecting some text, signature bears a much lighter blot to two letters, with, interestingly a small narrow loss to one line, obviously intentional and likely an excision by a censor. Frazer remained imprisoned at Boston until war's end.<b> $1,500-2,000</b>