Raynors HCA 2015-08
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/27/2015
The War Dated Watson Documents The grouping consists of eight pieces which include; An ALS by Watson to Col. Stater requesting “send other good man to help Tyler.”... plus, a copy of a an important letter by General McClellan to General Halleck, Camp near Rockville, Sept. 11, 1862. In part, “At the time this army moved from Washington, it was not known what the intentions of the rebels were in placing their forces on this side of the Potomac ... This uncertainty, in my judgment, exists no longer. All the evidence that has been accumulated from various sources since we left Washington goes to prove most conclusively that almost the entire rebel army in Virginia, amounting to not less than 120,000 men, is in the vicinity of Frederick City. These troops, for the most part, consist of their oldest regiments, and are commanded by their best generals. ...If there are any rebel forces remaining on the other side of the Potomac, they must be so few that the troops left in the forts, after the two corps shall have been withdrawn, will be sufficient to check them; and, with the large cavalry force now on that side kept well out in front to give warning of the distant approach of any very large army, a part of this army might be sent back within the intrenchments to assist in repelling an attack. But even if Washington should be taken while these armies are confronting each other, this would not, in my judgment, bear comparison with the ruin and disaster which would follow a signal defeat of this army. If we should be successful in conquering the gigantic rebel army before us, we would have no difficulty in recovering it. On the other hand, should their force prove sufficiently powerful to defeat us^ would all the forces now around Washington be sufficient to prevent such a victorious army from carrying the works on this side of the Potomac, after they are uncovered by our army? I think not. ...”... plus, a letter written to Watson, Boston, July 7, 1862, requesting a position in the department. ... plus, A letter written to Watson on Rockford Circuit Clerk’s letterhead, Feby 18, 1862, congratulating Watson on his appointment.... plus 12 pages on United States Telegraph Form, from Watson to Stanton, May 29, 1862 from Harpers Ferry, in small part “The deserter says also that Ashlys Cavalry horses were shoeless ... the enemys force is twenty to twenty-five thousand and fifteen hundred horses ... The men who went to Charlestown yesterday behaved badly ... set fire to the town hall .. broke open stores ...” ...plus, another 5 page Telegraph form, to Captain E.G. Beckwith, in small part, “say to Gen Banks that there are ten thousand men with their batteries of artillery at harpers Ferry under Gen Rufus Saxton ... plus, a four page telegraph form from Captain Beckwith to Watson, Hagerstown, in part “The force opposite Williamsport up till three pm was not known to be large ...”... plus, a four page telegraph form from Watson to Stanton, in small part, “I left Harpers Ferry to obtain what information I could as to the state of the enemys forcesthe people who came from the neighborhood of Leesburg ... say that the enemy has not made his appearance ...”
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