Raynors HCA 2015-02
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/19/2015
MOSBY, John Singleton (1833-1916) nicknamed the "Gray Ghost", was a Confederate Army cavalry battalion commander in the American Civil War. His command, the 43rd Battalion, 1st Virginia Cavalry, known as Mosby's Rangers or Mosby's Raiders, was a partisan ranger unit noted for its lightning quick raids and its ability to elude Union Army pursuers and disappear, blending in with local farmers and townsmen. The area of northern central Virginia in which Mosby operated with impunity was known during the war and ever since as Mosby's Confederacy. After the war, Mosby worked as an attorney and supported his former enemy's commander, President Ulysses S. Grant, serving as the U.S. consul to Hong Kong and in the U.S. Department of Justice. DUNN, William Logan (1838-1922). On May 14th, William volunteered for one year in what was later Company D, First Virginia Cavalry (under Col. J.E.B. Stuart and Capt. Wm E. Jones). At the end of this enlisted year, he volunteered as a member of the medical staff at Richmond, later serving as a surgeon in the 43rd Battalion Virginia Cavalry, better known as Col. John Mosby's Battalion (Mosby's Rangers). During this time he was captured and sent to Harpers Ferry and Fort McHenry. He was later released in a prisoner exchange. According to Colonel Mosby's memoirs, Dr. Dunn was more fond of fighting than he was of doctoring. However, he is credited with saving Col. Mosby's life on several occasions. This item has been in the owners collection for over 25 years, coming out of the Dunn family home. John S. Mosby Autograph Letter Signed, 5” x 7-3/4”, 1pp., ink, previous folds else fine. Minor professional repair to folds. Includes a post war business card, “W.L. Dunn, M.D., Glade Spring, VA.” The farewell text in full, “Fauquier Co., April 21, 1865, Soldiers I have summonsed you together for the last time. The vision we have cherished of a free and independent country has vanished and that country is now the spoil of a conqueror. I disband your organization in preference to our surrendering it to our enemies. I am no longer your commander after an association of more than two eventful years I part from [corrected by crossing out the word “with”and writing the word “from” above it] you with a just pride in the fame of your achievements and grateful recollections of your generous kindness to myself. And now, at this moment of bidding you a final adieu accept this assurance of my [corrected by crossing out the word “gratitude”] unchanging confidence and regard Farewell Jno S Mosby Colonel.” On the reverse in pencil and not in Mosby’s hand, “Dr. Dunn, Present.” As many of you may be aware, Mosby wrote and signed a number of souvenir (post war) copies of the famous farewell. We have done a 16 page study comparing this document with other known copies (The McWhorter copy, The Walker copy, The Virginia Historic Society copy, The Pemberton copy, and The Peyton copy). In each instance, each of these are very likely Post War copies. This “Dunn” copy has several differences from those post war copies. First, This Dunn copy is on a smaller sheet more typical to war period. Second, This Dunn copy contains corrected text, lacks some of the punctuation, contains a misspelled word, and is presented in a hurried cramped format ... all indicating this to be the original draft of the Farewell. Third, The Dunn copy was bought directly from the Dunn family and is confirmed with the Dunn notation on the reverse and Dunn’s post war calling card.
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