War-dated ALS signed “Jno H. Morgan, Brig Gen,” one page, 7.75 x 10, May 3, 1863. Morgan writes from “Hd. Qrs. Morgan’s Div.,” in Sparta, to Major E. S. Buford, A.A.G. To General Joseph Wheeler. In full: “No communication from Genl. Wheeler in regard to the dismounted men of my command has been received at these Hd. Qrs. Previous to the one received this morning. This is the second time that communications from Genl. Wheeler have failed to reach me.
I would beg leave to state to the Commanding General that these are at this point only some ten or twelve dismounted men, who are doing guard duty & c & are even fewer than is required. Regimental Commanders report all their men, except these few, as mounted. In this connection, I would like to call to the attention of the General to the fact, that these are some hundred & fifty or two hundred men of my command are now serving in General Helm’s Brigade. Why cannot these men be sent to McMinnville? I have sent two communications to Army Hd. Qrs. In regard to these men, & have received no reply to either, & I would request that enquiry should be made as to what has become of these papers.”
In very good to fine condition, with a couple small separations to horizontal mailing folds, scattered light wrinkling and creasing, scattered light spotting and toning, not affecting legibility of text, and a small tear to top left corner.
Written just about a month before the famous Morgan’s Raid through Union territory, this letter outlines the general’s efforts to bolster his ranks in preparation—including trying to recoup those troops who were serving under General Benjamin Hardin Helm, brother-in-law to President Abraham Lincoln. (As Kentucky's status in the Civil War remained neutral in 1861, Lincoln offered Helm the job of Union Army paymaster, but he instead returned to Kentucky to form the 1st Kentucky Cavalry.) Morgan is blunt in his inquiry, asking, “Why cannot these men be sent to McMinnville? I have sent two communications to (Army Headquarters)...in regard to these men, & have received no reply to either.” After having amassed a sufficient number of fighting me, Morgan's troops marched out of Alexandria and embarked on the greatest of all his raids, taking them through Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio to the farthest point north reached by any Confederate troops. Over a 24-day period, Morgan passed through 52 towns and captured nearly 6,000 prisoners. An historic war-dated letter written by the man whose invasion terrified the North and invigorated the South. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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