Civil War-dated ALS signed “Jeffer. Davis,” one page both sides, 5 x 8, May 23, 1862. Letter to General Joseph E. Johnston, written after surveying the battlefront during the Peninsula Campaign. In full: "I went yesterday afternoon to Mechanicsville and was there during the artillery firing which you no doubt heard. Genl. Lee was with me and at my request will see you. Col. Johnston A.D.C. accompanied by and will deliver this note to you, to him I refer you for any facts you may desire to learn. I saw Genl. Stewart and Genl. Cobb but as neither of them communicated to me any plan of operations or appeared to know what troops were in front as we approached I suppose neither of them could have been commanding in chief at that locality. My conclusion was that if as reported to be probable Genl. Franklin with a Division was in that vicinity, he might easily have advanced over the turn pike towards if not to Richmond." In very good to fine condition, with edge staining and a edge small separation to one horizontal fold.
Having personally toured the front lines with General Robert E. Lee, President Davis sent this letter to General Joseph E. Johnston with his observations—namely, that if, as reported, Union General William Buel Franklin been in the vicinity, the enemy might have easily advanced into the Confederate capital at Richmond. Johnston remained passive throughout the month of May, even though, by the time of this letter, George B. McClellan's Army of the Potomac had advanced to within twenty miles of Richmond. A week later, Johnston was wounded at the Battle of Seven Pines and subsequently replaced by Robert E. Lee. A significant piece of battlefield correspondence that demonstrates the disorganization of the Confederate troops under Johnston's command.
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