Auction Date:2010 Feb 10 @ 08:00 (UTC-05:00 : EST/CDT)
Location:5 Rt 101A Suite 5, Amherst, New Hampshire, 03031, 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
Confederate general. As the longtime colonel of the 13th Virginia Infantry Regiment, Terrill fought in nearly every major battle of the Eastern Theater. He was in Winchester during the Gettysburg Campaign but later fought in the Overland Campaign, including at Spotsylvania Court House. On May 30, 1864, the regiment was deployed to attack Union lines at Bethesda Church, near Mechanicsville. Terrill was shot through the body, but struggled to his feet and ordered the men forward before he was shot in the head and killed. The next day, the Confederate Senate confirmed his nomination as brigadier general. War-dated ALS signed “J. Barbuur Terrill,” three pages, lightly-lined on two adjoining sheets, 5.5 x 9.25, April 12, 1864. Letter to his father. In full: “Your last letter was received on Sunday night & I take my earliest opportunity to give it an answer. The ‘spectacles’ enclosed are the ones to which I referred in a former letter & for which I am extremely obliged as I find them to be very serviceable. We are now making all the necessary preparations in reference to the coming campaign which is profound in its impact to us all.
“It is not yet generally understood whether the attack will be made by Lee or Grant – should the attack be made by Gen. Grant it is more than probable that it will surpass in size anything of the kind in which the ‘army of Northern VA’ has ever participated. Gen. Early has expressed his intentions to push my regiment ‘on up to the hat-band.’ We will all however have our full share of whatever may occur. My regiment will be at least (350) strong excluding recruits.
“The Engineer Corps is now busily engaged strengthening and increasing the defenses of our present lines. I have met with Cousin Terry Morton several times in the last few weeks, he is now on a visit with his wife to his son in law. Capt. Halsey, Dr. Grymes and Col. Huffman send their regards. Grymes says you must come to the Army that you shall be taken care of. The recent excessive rains have rendered military operations in this vicinity for the present impracticable. It is rumored that a portion of Gen. Polk’s corps is in this vicinity passing secretly around from the west. I received a letter from George a few days since he was quite well Phillip I have not heard from for some time. Uncle George I also received a letter from during the last fortnight.” In very good condition, with light creasing and wrinkling, several intersecting folds (a couple lightly affecting the signature), light overall toning and a few light stains, all writing a shade or two light but completely legible.
Terrill’s foreshadowing of the massive battle in Virginia was the Overland Campaign, led by Grant against Lee and fought in May and June. It was, tragically, the very battle in which Terrill perished, surely having experienced “our full share of whatever may occur.” And to be sure, the impact on his family was far worse than the “profound” impact that Terrill had predicted for his troops.
Terrill and his brother, Union General William Rufus Terrill, perhaps epitomized the notion of “brother against brother.” The divided family became the stuff of legend, with a monument erected in their honor inscribed, “God alone knows which was right.” Anything signed by Terrill is exceedingly scarce; this war-dated ALS with battle content, undoubtedly one of last letters ever written by the general, is an exceptional Civil War rarity. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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5 Rt 101A Suite 5, Amherst, New Hampshire, 03031, United States
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