Confederate general (1821–1904) who distinguished himself at Bull Run, Fredericksburg, and Chickamauga. ALS, two lightly-lined pages, both sides, 6 x 9.5, June 25, 1889. Longstreet writes Colonel W. M. Owen in New Orleans. In full: “My attention has just been called to the transfer of Franchise of the original New Orleans and South Eastern Railway, both Company to the Company that afterwards built the road. The franchise I am told was worth half a million of dollars and as I understand was never regularly transferred to the new Company. I have been under the impression that the transfer was duly made, but am now informed that it was not, the last President of the Board Jn. Graham died, and that the Board of Directors was not duly reorganized, with a new President, up to the time of the new Company taking possession of the Board and going to work to build. We spent much time and money in getting the franchise which gave us extensive privileges in the city of New Orleans and elsewhere.
This matter may be worth looking up and if you can find the facts in the case such as I understand them now, we can afford to employ lawyers to settle upon amicably or through the Courts. My impression is that I agree with the new Company some years ago as to my interest in the regional stock and bonds under the impression that the Franchise had been duly transferred, but the information that reaches me now is to the affect as already stated and the new Company took and used our valuable Franchise without due compensation or authority. They gave me a thousand dollars in their new stocks for my old stocks and bonds and this new stock as I understand is not of any value in any way. In other words they have put a fraud upon me and got not only my bonds and stock but this valuable Franchise which could not have been had otherwise at half a million dollars. Please give the matter a little of your spare time and see what may become of it.” Longstreet has added the postscript: “I believe that I was the first Partnr. of the Company and continued to be for some two or three years.” In very good to fine condition, with intersecting horizontal and vertical folds, scattered creasing, and areas of staining and toning.
Longstreet settled in New Orleans after the war and, in 1870, was named president of the New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad. In 1881, control of that company was acquired by Alabama, New Orleans, Texas & Pacific Junction Railways Co. in a deal that Longstreet obviously found less than satisfactory—going so far as to describe the transaction as “fraud,” arguing the railway company “took and used our valuable Franchise without due compensation or authority.” Dealing with this claim was just one of the trials Longstreet faced in 1889, as in April of that year his home, Parkhill, burned to the ground. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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