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386

John Hunt Morgan

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:0.00 USD
John Hunt Morgan

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Auction Date:2010 Apr 14 @ 10:00 (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
Rare unsigned war-dated endorsement (with his last name incorporated in the text), dated March 3, 1864, on the reverse of a one page ALS to Morgan from Colonel Adam R. “Stovepipe” Johnson, written on the same date, on a light blue 8.25 x 10 lightly-lined sheet. Johnson writes, in part: “After the conversation I had with you on yesterday I can not understand your order of this morning. Is it intended by you to take command in person?…Today your orders imply that it is unnecessary for me to make any arrangements for other than the dismounted men. If you do not design taking direct command I most respectfully ask that your Quartermaster Maj. Llewellyn should remain subject to your orders alone; for I can certainly make arrangements more suitable to myself without his assistance. If my construction by correct, that is that you have taken command. The orders will be cheerfully and strictly carried out.” On the reverse, Morgan writes, “Hd Qtrs, Morgan’s Cav[alr]y, Decatur, Ga, Mch 3. 64. Col. A. R. Johnson—Asking explanation of orders in regard to moving dismounted men—also as to extent of his command etc.” In good to very good condition, with a few tape repairs along the reverse of horizontal mailing folds, chipping to right edge, three spots of toning from adhesive remnant along left side, a couple instances of repaired paper loss, affecting a few letters of text, and light show-through from writing on opposing sides.

Morgan’s claim to fame during the Civil War was his legendary raid into Indiana and Ohio in July 1863, penetrating deeper into Union territory than any other Southern force during the course of the war. Morgan and his raiders were eventually captured and sent to a maximum security civilian prison in Columbus, Ohio—where he and six of his men escaped four months later. Receiving a hero’s welcome upon his return to the Confederacy, Morgan traveled to Decatur, Georgia, in March 1864 to visit his old command and was shocked to find deplorable conditions in the camps, with his men suffering from a shortage of weapons, rations, equipment, uniforms, and horses.

It was in the wake of that discovery that Morgan received and replied to this letter from Johnson. The comments, unmistakably in Morgan’s hand, perhaps were the general’s way of trying to understand why a subordinate officer like Johnson would be “asking explanation of orders…as to extent of his command” given the conditions. However, it would seem that those questions were justified, as Morgan had not officially been placed in charge—thus prompting Johnson’s inquiry as to how much weight the general’s words carried. Morgan would be shot while trying to avoid capture six months later during a Union raid on Greeneville, Tennessee. Johnson’s military life was not much better, as he was shot in the face and blinded in August 1864, but would go on to establish a Texas town after the war. A coveted war-dated document from two of the most feared rebel cavalrymen. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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