Raynors HCA 2015-08
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/27/2015
STUART, J.E.B. (1833-1864) Confederate major general of cavalry, he lead a daring reconnaissance of McClellan’s forces, riding around the entire army, led a number of raids into Union territory, turned up late at Gettysburg leaving Lee ‘blind’, mortally wounded at Yellow Tavern. Stuart, not yet a general, was serving as colonel of the 1st Virginia Cavalry when he wrote this letter to the governor of Virginia, John Letcher, making a request for artillery. Autograph Letter Signed “J.E.B. Stauart”, 1pp., Hd Qrs Munson’s Hill, Sept. 18th, 1861, Fine. In full, "I have the honor to apply for 2 pieces of artillery, preferably 1 howitzer & 1 rifle-piece, to be assigned to my regt. (1st Cavalry) as 'horse artillery' the cannoneers to be detailed from the Regt. & mount themselves, & the horses & harnesses furnished by the state, with the pieces. As it is entirely in your power to supply this important element of war of which we have none, I beg of you as a personal friend and as a patriotic Executive to let me have it, it can be done through Col. Pendleton who is, or will soon be, in Richmond. I need a Lieut. Col. very much & have urged the appointment of Capt. Fitzhugh Lee. Lt. Col. Ashby has never been assigned to my Regt. & is serving with another." Stuart had already made a name for himself with his devastation of the 111th New York Fire Zouaves at the First Battle of Manassas two months earlier. Six days after writing this letter, Stuart was promoted to brigadier general and on September 27, Capt. Fitzhugh Lee, the nephew of Robert E. Lee who was then serving on the staff of Gen. Richard Ewell, was promoted to lieutenant colonel and placed under the command of Stuart.
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