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Samuel Gibbs French

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:400.00 - 600.00 USD
Samuel Gibbs French

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Auction Date:2014 Apr 16 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, 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
Solider and wealthy plantation owner (1818-1910) who served as a major general in the Confederate army, commanding a division in the Army of Tennessee in the Western Theater. ALS signed “S. G. French,” one page, 8.25 x 8.75, May 19, 1894. Letter to General M. J. Wright. In full: “Yours of Feb. 23rd last missent to Mr. Harris returned to you has reached me today. In as much as the Picayune article was published in the S. H. Society Papers I have sent them my reply asking that it may be published by them—and I presume they will comply with my request. I have seen no notice of my reply from anyone except one who considered it of such historical value that he sent it to the Count de Paris in Spain, where he then was. If you have anything let me know because that was unkind to put Polk’s & Hood’s sins on me. Johnston nor Polk never once mentioned the subject to me after that night. In fact no one seemed to care anything about it then.” French adds a postscript at the conclusion: “It is hard at this day to go behind a diary without coming to grief.” In very good condition, with intersecting folds, ragged edges (slightly affecting a few words), brittle overall toning, and a brush to ink affecting a portion of the signature. The Southern Historical Society Papers was a publication in the late 19th century dedicated to telling the story of the South, featuring articles written by Southern soldiers, officers, politicians, and civilians. In 1893 they reprinted an article originally published in the New Orleans publication Picayune, which was critical of French’s actions while serving under Leonidas Polk at Cassville, Georgia, in May 1864. General Johnston had a set a plan to ambush one part of Sherman's army before reinforcements could arrive, with Hood attacking on the flank and Polk and Hardee attacking from the front. Once in place, however, French expressed concern that his position was compromised from a defensive standpoint and he was not confident that they could hold it—this in spite of the other generals clamoring for battle. After a meeting of the generals, they decided to retreat from Cassville without engaging Sherman’s troops, who continued toward Atlanta. This became a controversial decision because of the failed potential—Johnston later said he considered it the best opportunity he saw during the war, and it was squandered. The article published in the Southern Historical Society Papers harshly placed the blame entirely on French, painting him as an annoying coward; however, they did comply with French’s wishes and published his reactions to the critical piece in the following issue.