Lot 1191
(Confederate) (Van Dorn, Earl). Confederate general who was assassinated on May 8, 1863 at Spring Hill, Tennessee, by a man who said Van Dorn had "violated the sanctity of his home"; Van Dorn's friends claimed it was cold-blooded murder, for political reasons. Three months before Van Dorn's assassination, his oldest sister, Octavia (Van Dorn) Sullivane, writes an 18-page letter to their sister Jane, Belvoir (Va), Feb. 5th, 1863, full of news about family, friends, and the war, and defends their brother against the "jealousy" of his enemies: "You need not believe one of the falsehoods that have been circulated against him - he has been abused by the miserable editors because he offended them when he first took command of the Department of Miss…That caused jealousy among Gen. Price's friends who were ready and eager to catch at anything to injure Earl" She describes noteworthy actions of "Earl's," including having Judge Sharkey arrested (he was acquitted) for trying to depreciate Confederate money, and declaring martial law in the Dept., threatening to arrest any editor who published anything relating to troop movements, etc. This caused editors, who "lead the people by the nose at will" to circulate "vile slanders" against him. She notes that "after the disaster at Corinth [he was defeated by Rosecrans] he was terribly abused," and describes the charges brought against him by Gen. Bowen and the Court of Inquiry; he was acquitted, and "The President [Jefferson Davis] said it was the most complete vindication he had ever seen." She describes the cavalry raid against Holly Springs "that saved Mississippi from being overrun by the enemy…Gen. Grant with a large Army was coming down on the Mobile & Ohio R.R. towards Columbus, Miss…when Earl with 5000 Cavalry went up suddenly &…destroyed all of Gen. Grant's stores….Earl has done good service to the South, and it will be acknowledged some day… " She denies rumors that he drinks too much and that his wife is suing him for divorce, and describes his bitterness at being overlooked for promotion. Much more very interesting detail!
Estimated Value $800 - 1,200.
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