2004-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2004
Neatly penned letter entirely in the hand of and fully signed by "A. MORDECAI / MAJOR, ORDNANCE" from his post as commanding officer of Watervlieat Arsenal, New York February 13, 1860 addressed to America's most famous arms inventor and manufacturer SAMUEL COLT in Hartford. Single sheet (blank reverse) short note "…please inform me at what price you can furnish for the United States service 25,000 cartridges for your belt pistol and 15,000 [cartridges] for your holster pistol." At the outbreak of the Civil War Alfred Mordecai was faced with a terrible dilemma. Being a native of South Carolina (with an important family background in Charleston) he could not bring himself to take up the Southern cause, yet on the other hand he could not face the challenge of having to fight his native state and people and hence retired from active service. His son, who graduated in that same era from West Point went on to a lengthy career in the U.S. Army rising to general. Light aging; exc. +.
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