2020-07 2 sessions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/23/2020
BRIGGS, Henry Shaw (1824-1887) was brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. During the war, Briggs served as a captain with the 8th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. He was the colonel and first commander of the 10th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. After suffering serious wounds during the Battle of Fair Oaks in 1862, Briggs was promoted to brigadier general and served primarily administrative commands in Baltimore, Washington, D.C. and Alexandria, Virginia. He was, however, periodically assigned various brigade commands in the field for brief periods during the latter half of the war. Both prior to and after the war, Briggs was a lawyer and politician. He served as a state legislator, Massachusetts Auditor and a judge War-date Union general's Autograph Letter Signed by General Henry Briggs, 9pp. quarto, Camp Chan, Virginia, September 14, 1862, addressed to his wife, and reads in part: "...Howland who came over this morning says he heard heavy firing...soon after day break...I thought this morning that I was pretty nearly settled, with plenty of tents and three first rate regiments on the prospect of another soon to be added to complete my Brigade. I have been for a couple of days though in the same predictmanet that I was while commanding a brigade at Warwick - a conflict of authority between superior officers, Gen Casey claims command a one of the Provisional Brigades; while Gen. Whipple commanding the Defenses South west of the Potomac announced that he has command of all the troops in this position. So I have made morning reports and abeyance orders of both, acting upon the military rule that the last order from a superior is law, altho it may be in direct conflict with one lately received from another superior....overcame an order from Gen. Casey directing two regts. (the 39th Mass and 10th Ver.) to march across the aqueduct bridge to quell the river from Seneca Creek to Contraels Ferry. As this was in direct conflict with the orders of Gen. Whipple I at once proceeded to notify the regiments and then to report Gen. Casey's orders to Gen. Whipple. The result was that the regiments went over as it appears afterwards by order of Gen. Banks who commands the troops about Washington while Gen. McClellan is in the field. So I am here with a brigade of one regiment - but that a good one...I am sorry to lose them though...I don't know what is meant by 'provisional brigade' is one from which regts are to be taken for anybody who wants them...The affair is only an example as Howland said ...of the whole management from the beginning of these great military operations. A war of technicalities and ceremonies and particular, and jealousness among generals, who might by the service of half the common sense and civility which they would in common and personal affairs, have a perfectly good understanding and cooperate in the sole purpose of making the service as effective as possible...My new sword hardly kept its character today. My horse having made an extraordinary movement, the copper ring pulled apart, the handle turned down and the sword fell to the ground. Significant no doubt of the feat that my authority have just been diminished by the taking away two of my three regiments...the firing from the north early indicates that all is not quiet along the upper Potomac. There was evidently activity in the same direction yesterday morning. Although we have as yet heard nothing..." More. VG.
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