LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 October Rare Books & Manuscripts #675  / 

30301

Henry A. Wise, Confederate Brigadier General

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:4,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD
Henry A. Wise, Confederate Brigadier General
<B>Henry A. Wise, Confederate Brigadier General, Autograph Letter Signed, with Autograph Additions by Other Officers, Including General P. G. T. Beauregard</B></I> Excellent content in this Civil War letter by Henry A. Wise (1806-1876) referring to Captain G. A. Wallace of the Richmond Light Guard, 59th Virginia Infantry, who went AWOL after being denied three weeks’ leave, then granted six hours’ leave, to go to Richmond on private business. Wise writes to Major Theodore O. Chestney (1837-1925) to call for Wallace’s possible arrest, 4 pages, 7.5” x 9.5”, Charleston, South Carolina, September 25th, 1863. Prior to the Civil War, Wise served as Governor of Virginia and signed the death warrant of radical abolitionist John Brown. At the end of the conflict, he urged Robert E. Lee to surrender at Appomattox Court House. In this letter, Wise writes in part: <I>“Captain Wallace did not return and did not join his Company at Rice’s Station, and has not up to this, the 25th day of Sept., returned to his Regiment. Instead of doing so, Capt. Wallace by letter to you informs you that he was confined by fever. This letter is dated the 18th, four days after the leave of 6 hours only was granted him and after the departure of his Company for Charleston. No Surgeon’s Certificate accompanies his letter. Under these circumstances there is reason to apprehend that Capt. Wallace is taking without leave the absence he applied for. He was lately under arrest for precisely that offence, when he was relieved by Pres. Davis’ proclamation. …If he is not now unable to do duty, it is asked that he be arrested and sent to his Company under arrest. Very respy, yr. obdt. servt., Henry A. Wise, Brig. Genl.”</B></I> The first two pages contain Wise’s letter to Chestney. Pages three and four include additions by several other officers referring to Wallace’s absence and the possibility of his obtaining a surgeon’s certificate or be returned to his regiment. The most prominent of these signers is Pierre Gustave Toutant de Beauregard (1818-1893), the first prominent Confederate General, who commanded at the battles of Fort Sumpter, Bull Run and Shiloh. Beauregard writes in full: <I>“Respectfully forwarded with the request that this officer be ordered to join his command / G. T. Beauregard”</B></I>. The letter is in very good condition with some fading, folds and a three-inch separation at the bottom of the spine.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Flat Material, Small (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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