July 14th, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/14/2011
RODES, Robert Emmett (1829-1864) Confederate general. When General Robert E. Lee reorganized the Army of Northern Virginia to compensate for the loss of “Stonewall” Jackson, Rodes joined the Second Corps under Richard Ewell. In the Battle of Gettysburg, on July 1, 1863, Rodes led the assault from Oak Hill against the right flank of the Union I Corps. Although he successfully routed the division of Maj. Gen. John C. Robinson and drove it back through the town, the attack was not as well coordinated or pursued as aggressively as his reputation would have implied. His division sat idle for the remaining two days of the battle. On September 19, 1864, Sheridan attacked the Confederates at the Battle of Opequon, also known as the Third Battle of Winchester. Several wives of Confederate officers were chased from town during the attack and Rodes managed to save Maj. Gen. John B. Gordon's wife from capture. Rodes and Gordon prepared to attack Sheridan's forces when Rodes was struck in the back of his head by a Union shell fragment. He died on the field outside Winchester. War-date Autograph Letter Signed “R.E. Rodes Brig. Genl. &c.”4pp. quarto, Richmond, Virginia, July 4, 1862, addressed to Mrs. Webster, pertaining to the death of her husband William Eugene Webster (1831-1862) grandson of Noah Webster, and reads in part: “ ...Yesterday I made a deliberate effort to obtain your address from Major Baldwin - who had just been brought in from the field wounded - in order that I might write to you and tell you and your children about the gallantry and about the circumstances attending the death of Lieut Webster, their father. This morning I found a letter to Major Baldwin from a friend of yours asking for just the information I had intended to give, and I write there in my name and in that of Major Baldwin. I must preface what I have to say however with the painful intelligence that death was sudden to himself and hours afterward unsuspected by me. He accidently met me on Thursday night at Mechanicsville whilst looking out for Genl. Pender on whose staff intended to serve as a volunteer aid de camp - Knowing his worth and character, I offered him the same place on my staff as long as he chose to remain - he accepted the position with me until the close of the battle. On Friday we came under fire about 2 P.M. at Coal Harbour [Cold Harbor] where Lieut Websters conduct in obtaining information and carrying orders for me under desperately dangerous circumstances, won for him the admiration of all his associates on my staff and that of my whole command, and established for him the highest character for intelligence, intrepidity, and coolness. Till late in the afternoon he had escaped unhurt and had done so much for me and my command that I resolved not to expose him any more than the men remaining with me would. At the close of the day however our division was ordered to make a charge. I sent Lt. W with a request to one of the Brig Generals associated with me in the charge - before it began and when we were not under fire - and I am grieved to say I saw him no more. We charged the enemy, drove him back - and not till the next morning did I find that Lieut. Webster had with excess of gallantry entered the charge with a North Carolina Regiment of Genl. Garland’s brigade and had been killed by a shell discharged from a battery near the ‘McGa house’ at Coal Harbour [Cold Harbor]. He must have been killed instantly. I came near losing his body because knowing that he had not entered the charge with me - I in common with my staff officers gave full land ready credence to a statement that was made to us to the effect that he had been seen after the battle en route for Richmond - Next morning Major Baldwin who had been attached as field officer to one of my Regiments and who had learned that he was missing has searched the battle field in vain for his body. This confirmed us in the belief that he was safe - but alas about 10 o’clock on Saturday a staff officer of Genl. Garland meeting us told us that he had seen Lieut Webster killed and showed Major Baldwin his body on the bloody field...I regret that I cannot possibly give you a more minute account of this sad event. I know and have been told enough however to enable you to feel certain that your husband died gloriously in a successful charge upon the enemies of our beloved South - and that he has bequethed to his children an honorable reputation, an immortal name...” Center fold professionally repaired, else very good condition.
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