LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 December Civil War Auction #674  / 

72122

JOHN B. CLARK SR. WAR-DATE ALS TO GEN PRICE

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:975.00 USD Estimated At:1,200.00 - 1,400.00 USD
JOHN B. CLARK SR. WAR-DATE ALS TO GEN PRICE
<B>JOHN B. CLARK SR. WAR-DATE AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED, TO GENERAL STERLING PRICE.</B></I> "<I>John B. Clark</B></I>". Four pages, 8" x 10", October 7, 1864, Richmond, Virginia, to Major Genl Price. John Bullock Clark Sr. was born in Kentucky, the nephew of two U.S. congressmen. He studied law and set up his practice in Missouri in 1824. In 1832, he was commissioned colonel of Missouri Mounted Volunteers, fought in the Black Hawk War, and was promoted to major general of the State Militia in 1848. He was appointed to the U.S. congress in 1857 and served until his expulsion in 1861 for taking up arms against the Union. Clark then served in both the first and second Confederate congresses, and in the field as a brigadier general in the Missouri State Guard. His son, John Bullock Clark, Jr. was a general in the Confederate States Army. <BR><BR>This letter, to friend and former Missouri governor Sterling "Old Pap" Price, was written during Price's ultimately unsuccessful Missouri Expedition. Clark apprises Price of what the northern papers are reporting of his mission, even sending him a copy of one (not present). The letter reads, in part: "<I>From the northern papers of the 3rd inst. received here today, it appears that you have penetrated within twenty miles of St. Louis with your forces, and that you are taking one place after another in rapid succession, filling our enemies with consternation & alarm… I pray you may have complete success and that our people may raise and shake off the shackles that have so long bound them; may the Almighty preserve you and your noble army, and give you that success our cause so well deserves… All eyes are upon you and you have the prayers of every true person in the Confederacy. If you are successful in this effort for your country you will be recognized as the greatest of heroes, and deliverers of any age… I send you a paper of today which will give you all the news up to this morning. Today however has up to this hour been a most eventful one around Richmond, the two armies have been in severe battle all day - up to this time we have the advantage, and hold our ground, with considerable loss in officers and men. But we have killed large numbers of the enemy and taken more than a thousand persons, and a quantity of artillery & small arms but we are still fighting not more than five or six miles from the city; the battle is also ... around Petersburg with what success I am not informed… But for my rheumatism I would write you more at length - my general health is good - give my regards to our friends and your staff in particular. With my best wishes for your success and happiness. I am your friend…</B></I>" <BR><BR><B>Condition:</B></I> Separation at vertical folds between pages, not affecting text, else fine.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Flat Material, Small (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
Sign In to Bookmark Lot