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Sale 33
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Lot 387
Stuart, James Ewell Brown (1833-1864) Legendary Confederate cavalry officer; mortally wounded at Yellow Tavern on May 11, 1864. Autograph Letter unsigned, 4pp, 7½"x5½", whimsically datelined "Camp Laura, Mar: 17th 1862." Fine. One small area of paper loss at the lower edge may have been taken out by Stuart himself; perhaps he had signed with his initials before he decided to be coy and let Laura guess who wrote the letter. Beginning March 9th, eight days before he wrote this letter, Stuart moved out of his winter camp and covered Johnston's evacuation from before Bull Run to Culpeper Court House; his troops were in charge of destroying tons of supplies that the Confederate army had accumulalted at Manassas but could not move. It was during this period of time that Stuart wrote this flirtatious letter with excellent war content referring to the ironclad Merrimack's victories and bragging that he would lead the victorious advance into Pennsylvania. In part:
"…Our enemies are playing a good game pretending to restore instead of destroying as we do, and I have no doubt we have a plenty silly enough to put confidence in their fair promises and soft whining speeches….I hope you will give the Yankees a wide berth and only use the list I gave you in case you got into any serious trouble & required protection. I have no friends on the Yankee side. The enemies of my country are my enemies and I feel assured are also my Laura's enemies….Your friends are all well and in fine fighting trim -- we are bound to whip the Yankees this time worse than ever and it will not be many months before I lead the triumphant advance into Pennsylvania. Let me caution you in the mean time to be prepared for the most outrageous slanders on us and our cause. Turn a deaf ear to all accounts and keep an abiding faith in the justness of our cause and the help of God. We had a glorious naval success at Norfolk -- sinking and disabling 3 vessels. The Cumberland, Congress and Minnesota. It was all done by the Merrimack whose name is changed to 'Virginia'….Can I ever forget that never to be forgotten good-bye! Will you forget it? I am vain enough Laura to be flattered with the hope that…whatever betides me and this eventful year you will in the corner of that heart so full of noble impulses find a place in which to stow away from worldly view the 'young Brigadier' even when that bullet-proof helmet (raven -lock) has fulfilled its last mission. I do not want you to destroy this but keep it and take it out occasionally to remind you of the thoughts and sentiments of the 'absent one'….Can you guess who wrote this, I'll let you try. Good bye."
Estimated Value $12,000 - 18,000.
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| Realized $12,075 |
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