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WINFIELD SCOTT Historic Civil War Military Manuscript Letter Signed Jan 19, 1861
Currency:USD
Category:Collectibles
Start Price:3,000.00 USD
Estimated At:3,500.00 - 4,500.00 USD
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3,500.00USDto floor+ buyer's premium
This item SOLD at 2017 Mar 18 @ 11:11UTC-07:00 : PDT/MST
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January 19, 1861 General Winfield Scott Reacts Swiftly to Defend Washington, DC From Impending Southern Threat
General WINFIELD SCOTT (1786-1866). United States Army General, and Unsuccessful Presidential Candidate of the Whig Party in 1852.
January 19, 1861-Dated, Fully Handwritten, this Historic Content Manuscript Military Letter is Signed, “Winfield Scott,” 2 pages, about 5” x 8” folded size, Octavo, mailed from Washington, DC. Choice Very Fine. This Letter is beautifully written in rich deep brown ink upon fine quality light blue lined period wove paper to “Maj. Genl. (Charles W.) Sandford” (1796-1878). The “Winfield Scott” signature measures about 2” wide. In this historic Letter, General Scott identifies the obvious military threat to the thinly-protected nation’s Capitol. He asks specifically for the Seventh New York State Militia, one of the best-trained and outfitted peace-time regiments in the country, to come to aid in its defense.
As the Southern states begin to secede, General Winfield Scott calls for the celebrated Seventh Regiment of New York Militia, one of the very first regiments to serve during the Civil War, to march to defend the nation’s Capitol, Washington, DC. When South Carolina seceded from the Union on December 20, 1860, United States Major Robert Anderson and his force of 85 soldiers were positioned at Fort Moultrie, near the mouth of Charleston Harbor. On December 26th 1860, fearing for the safety of his men, Anderson moved his command to Fort Sumter, an imposing fortification in the middle of the harbor. While politicians and military commanders wrote and screamed about the legality and appropriateness of this provocative move, Anderson’s position became more perilous.
Just after the Inauguration of President Abraham Lincoln on March 4, 1861, Anderson reported that he had only a six week supply of food left in the fort. Confederate patience for his foreign Union force in its Southern territory was wearing thin. On Thursday, April 11, 1861, Confederate Brigadier Geneneral P.G.T. Beauregard dispatched aides to Major Anderson to demand the fort’s surrender. Anderson refused. The very next morning, at 4:30 am, his Confederate cannon batteries opened fire on Fort Sumter. The Civil War had begun! This important and superbly timed Signed Military Letter reads, in full:
“Washington, Jan. 19, 1861 --- My Dear Sir --- I have written to his Excellency Governor Morgan, on the subject referred to in your letter, and took the liberty of advising him to confer with you upon the subject of organization. I quote, for your information, the first two paragraphs of that letter, as follows: ‘I am very sure that the President [Buchanan], as yet, has not seriously thought of calling for volunteers of militia from any quarter beyond this district, & to maintain the peace here, the local militia, the constabulary & some 700 regulars – including three companies of horse or flying artillery are at present, deemed sufficient. Perhaps, no regiment or company can be brought here, from a distance, without producing hurtful jealousies in this vicinity. If there be an exception, it is the 7th Infantry, of the City of New York, which has become somewhat national, & is held, deservedly, in the highest respect from its escorting the remains of President Monroe from New York to Richmond & its presence at the inauguration of the statues of the Father of his country in Washington. --- (Signed In Scott’s own hand) I remain, my dear General, Very truly yrs, Winfield Scott”
An extremely important Civil War content, superb Military Letter from Union General Winfield Scott of immense historical significance. Of Museum quality, this Letter is worthy of inclusion within the finest of Civil War manuscript collections. (Read much more related historic details regarding General Winfield Scott, and the 7th NY Militia, on our Auction Website: www.EarlyAmerican.com.)
Winfield Scott (June 13, 1786 – May 29, 1866) was a United States Army General, and unsuccessful Presidential Candidate of the Whig Party in 1852.
Known as "Old Fuss and Feathers" and the "Grand Old Man of the Army," he served on active duty as a General longer than any other man in American history, and many historians rate him the best American commander of his time.
Over the course of his 53-year career, he commanded forces in the War of 1812, the Black Hawk War, the Mexican-American War, the Second Seminole War, and, briefly, the American Civil War, conceiving the Union strategy known as the “Anaconda Plan” that would be used to defeat the Confederacy.
He served as Commanding General of the United States Army for twenty years, longer than any other holder of the office.
A national hero after the Mexican-American War, he served as military governor of Mexico City. Such was his stature that, in 1852, the United States Whig Party passed over its own incumbent President of the United States, Millard Fillmore, to nominate Scott in that year's United States presidential election.
At a height of 6'5" he remains the tallest man ever nominated by a major party. Scott lost to Democrat Franklin Pierce in the general election, but remained a popular national figure, receiving a brevet promotion in 1856 to the rank of Lieutenant General, becoming the first American since George Washington to hold that rank.
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The Seventh New York State Militia and the Defense of Washington, DC...
This famous regiment of New York city dates its origin from April, 1806, when Companies A, B, C and D, were organized at the time of the excitement created by the British firing on American vessels off Sandy Hook.
At the beginning of 1861, it was known as one of the best appointed and drilled militia regiments then in existence. It was composed of excellent men and equipment, all its members being young men engaged in active business pursuits in NYC, and was the first New York regiment to leave for the front.
Its departure for Washington, April 19, 1861 – albeit some three months after Scott’s initial request in this letter, due most likely to indecision on behalf of President Buchanan – was attended by scenes of great excitement and enthusiasm, its line of march through the streets of New York met with wild cheers and shouts of encouragement from the citizens. Speaking of the National Guard regiments furnished by New York, Fox writes in his Regimental Losses in the Civil War, that:
"Of these troops, the 7th regiment, National Guard – or 7th Militia, as it was called – was particularly conspicuous by the surprising celerity with which it went to the front in time of need; by its superior drill and equipment; and by the high standard of personal character which marked its rank and file.
When the war broke out it was among the very first to take the field, leaving New York with 991 officers and men, and by its timely arrival at Washington contributed largely to the relief of the threatened capital. This, its first enlistment, was for 30 days.
It volunteered again in May, 1862, for three months; and again in June, 1863, for one month. But the 7th rendered a far greater and more valuable service to the country by the large number of efficient and well-drilled soldiers, which went from its ranks to accept commissions in the new volunteer regiments.
The volunteers were lacking in drill and military experience; the proficiency of the 7th was well known and membership in its ranks was a guarantee of character. Hence the volunteer service made such demands on it for officers that 603 men of this regiment were commissioned in other commands during the war. It was the West Point of the New York volunteer service."
News of the riot in Baltimore, in which some of the soldiers of the 6th Massachusetts were killed, was received before the regiment left New York, and the members were each provided with 48 rounds of ball-cartridge. On reaching Philadelphia orders were received to deviate from the route through Baltimore, as it was highly important that the regiment should reach Washington as soon as possible.
It moved by rail as far as Perryville and then by steamer to Annapolis, and made the toilsome march to Washington in company with the 8th Massachusetts. It reached the capital on the April 26th, and was at once mustered into the U.S. service for 30 days. It crossed the Potomac with the first troops, when Alexandria and Arlington Heights were occupied; assisted in the construction of Fort Runyon; served at Washington until the expiration of its term, and was mustered out at New York city, June 3, 1861.
On the day before it left the capital, an order was issued from the war department, of which the following is an extract:
"It is the desire of the war department, in relinquishing the services of this gallant regiment, to make known the satisfaction that is felt at the prompt and patriotic manner in which it responded to the call for men to defend the capital, when it was believed to be in peril, and to acknowledge the important service which it rendered by appearing here in an hour of dark and trying necessity. The time for which it had engaged has now expired. The service which it was expected to perform has been handsomely accomplished, and its members may return to their native city with the assurance that its services are gratefully appreciated by all good and loyal citizens, whilst the government is equally confident that when the country again calls upon them, the appeal will not be made in vain to the young men of New York."
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California |
| SST |
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San Diego County |
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Infinite |
25% |
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g. The term “Catalog” shall mean the official publication issued by EAHA and transmitted to potential Bidder(s) in advance of the Auction.
h. The term “Cataloguer” shall mean the individual(s) that has described the “Lot(s)” contained in the Catalog for the Auction.
i. “Conservation” the Professional activities including the careful examination as supported by expertise, research and education, in treatment of an item using, “any methods that prove effective in keeping or bringing that property in as close to its original condition as possible, for as long as possible.”
j. The term “Consignment Agreement” shall mean the written agreement(s) between “EAHA” and a given “Consignor” available at “EAHA’s” offices.
k. The term “Consignor” shall mean the owner of the “Merchandise” offered for sale by “Lot” at the Auction.
l. The term “Description” shall mean the written remarks describing the features of a Lot combined with the corresponding photograph of said Lot.
m. The term “www.EarlyAmerican.com” shall mean the Internet accessible service provided by EAHA.
n. The term “EAHA” shall mean collectively Early American History Auctions, Inc. and/or any subsidiary or affiliated entity and/or Officer(s), Director(s) and/or employee(s) of EAHA.
o. The term “Fair Market Value” shall mean the sale price a given Lot is expected by the Cataloguer to realize at the Auction from the Bidder(s).
p. The term “Hammer Price” shall mean the successful Bid in the Auction as determined by the Auctioneer on the Auction Date.
q. The term “Holder” shall mean the original frame, container, case or clear plastic sleeve, labeled with the “Lot” number, in which the “Merchandise” is delivered by the Consignor to the successful Bidder at an Auction.
r. The term “Lot(s)” shall mean the article(s) comprising the Merchandise offered for sale at the Auction.
s. The term “Low Estimate” shall mean the low range of the sale price that a Lot is expected by the Cataloguer to realize at the Auction.
t. The term “Merchandise” shall mean personal property described in the Catalog and offered for sale by Lot at the Auction.
u. The term “Purchaser” shall mean the successful Bidder at the Auction on the Auction Date.
v. The term “Purchaser’s Premium” shall mean the commission that is automatically charged by “EAHA” to each successful Bidder at the Auction in a sum equal to twenty percent (20%) of the “Hammer Price” or twenty-five percent (25%) of the “Hammer Price” if bids are placed through a third party firm including Invaluable.com, LiveAuctioneers.com and iCollector.com.
w. The term “Reserve” is a confidential price below which the Auctioneer will not sell a given Lot, and/or will re-purchase on behalf of the Consignor or EAHA.
x. The term “Settlement Date” shall mean a time forty-five (45) days after the Auction Date.