LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 Collection of Western History #680  / 

74112

Major Marcus A. Reno Autograph Letter Signed

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:800.00 USD Estimated At:1,600.00 - 2,000.00 USD
Major Marcus A. Reno Autograph Letter Signed
<B>MAJOR MARCUS A. RENO AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED</B></I> - Lined paper, New York City, January 3, 1886, to the "<I>Editor Weekly Press</B></I>" <I>saac R. Pennypacker . Reno, a career military man, proved to be a capable and brave soldier during the Civil War, achieving a brevet rank of brigadier general for "meritorious services during the war." His military reputation would later suffer as many accused him of abandoning Custer at Little Bighorn in 1876. Reno was eventually given a dishonorable discharge based on various charges in 1880 that was much later changed to an honorable discharge in 1967 by a military board of review. By the time this letter was written, Reno was nearly destitute; he was trying to find a publisher for his memoirs and couldn't. This particular letter was in response to an offer by Pennypacker of $35.00 for two articles that Reno had submitted for publication, one about Custer and the other about Mosby. Reno is stating that he had been offered more by a New York publisher and offers to accept $100.00. He writes, in full: "<I>Your note of 30th ult. received. I had furnished the return from the publication of these articles to my wife & she has discovered that a magazine published in N.Y. City will pay her more for them than $35. As you have them & as I first offered them to you, you can have them for $100.00. Articles like these written from the experience & personal observations of myself, could not be accounted as ordinary correspondence, & for that reason should not be subjected to the usual rates of pay however I do not presume to dictate to an old newspaperman & if my proposition will be acceptable to you, publish them, if not, return them, & I will not feel hurt. Very respectfully,</B></I>" A postscript adds, "<I>If you do not keep them please return them by express as I wish to have them on Tuesday morning</B></I>". Fine condition, tipped to a larger sheet with acid content which has caused some toning. Includes an issue of the Little Big Horn Associates <I>Newsletter</B></I> dated November 1973 which includes an article about this series of series of correspondence, both housed in a grey custom library case. <BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Books & Catalogs (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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