May 2020 Auction Ends Thursday, May 28th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/28/2020
General Robert E. Lee letter signed, composed a week after Lee executed his ''perfect battle'' plan at Chancellorsville. In the face of overwhelming Union forces, Lee made the bold decision on 1 May 1863 to split his army, pitting a small force to defend Fredericksburg against the advance of Union General John Sedgwick, and using the remainder of his army to attack Union General Joseph Hooker's forces. The strategy was so effective that Lee divided his army a second time on 2 May, allowing General Stonewall Jackson to rout the Union's XI Corps, and causing Hooker to hesitate before ultimately withdrawing his forces. Indeed, the battle was so perfectly executed that many believe it led to Lee's hubristic decision to pursue the Union army north, leading to the Battle of Gettysburg, which completely altered the course of the Civil War.
Dated 9 May 1863 from Lee's headquarters in Virginia, Lee writes to Colonel Henry B. Davidson, with unusual specificity regarding troop replenishment, movement of specific companies, and guarding ''culprits'' to repair roads. Letter reads in full, ''In reply to your letter of April 27th and endorsement of April 28th I have the honour to say that the culprits alluded to in the former were sent on the representation of Gen. [John Marshall] Jones to work on the roads. If you could possibly get up a local company to guard them while they made our roads better, it would be of great service to us. If however you cannot guard them, they will be of no use to you. [Colonel Robert A.] Caskie's Rangers [10th Virginia Cavalry, Co. A] will be ordered at once to their regiments. I am very anxious to have the two companies of the 61st Va. Regiment sent on at once. If you can not spare both of them, can you not send one of them now. The request to increase Rin's company to 100 men I have approved and forwarded to the Department for action. If you could get up some local troops about Staunton they could do good service and prevent the necessity of depleting our regiment by detaching companies for past duty at that point. / I am very respectfully / Your obt. Servt / RE Lee / Genl''. Two page letter on a single sheet measures 7.75'' x 9.75''. Writing a bit light, otherwise near fine condition. A rare letter by the Confederate General during a critical juncture in the Civil War.
General Robert E. Lee Letter Signed Regarding Troop Replenishment After the Battle of Chancellorsville -- Dated 9 May 1863 After Lee Made the Audacious Decision to Split His Army & Bluff the Union
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