Lawyer and Confederate general (1823–1895) who was the youngest brigade commander and the only non-professional officer in the division that led Pickett’s Charge on the last day of the Battle of Gettysburg. ALS signed “J. L. Kemper,” one page both sides, 8 x 10.75, July 18, 1885. A retained copy (so marked on the adjacent leaf) of a letter sent by Kemper from Orange Court House, Virginia to the Messrs. Duke and Duke. In part: “The question of compromise, to which you refer, is not ended, and I am sure you will agree that reasonable time shall be allowed for definite action upon it…. You will presently understand why I am greatly surprized at the contents of your letter. Either Mr. Glenn has misunderstood or forgotten the status of this claim against me, or his Richmond counsel, Messrs. Carrington & Fitzhugh, habe unaccountably misled me. Some ten months ago, I had an interview with Mr. Glenn and Col. Marshall, his Baltimore counsel, and, in accordance with suggestions from them both, I at once prepared a petition and took it to Richmond to file it in the proper court…. Carrington & Fitzhugh were of opinion that I ought not to file any petition while they were prosecuting proceedings against Mr. Hart, the sole owner of the stock on which it is alleged I am liable…. Glenn and Carrington know the equities of my case, and I am sure you are yet to learn them. I can only refer to them briefly now. In 1865, certain ex-Confederates resolved to organize the Express Company & informally did so, One of them, an old army friend, wrote to me that he and other had ‘reserved’ this stock for me—intending it as a good thing for me. Thereupon I went ot Richmond to get rid of it, for I knew I could not pay even the smallest assessment upon it. I did very promptly get rid of it, and in doing so I aimed of course not to repudiate in an offensive manner action which friends had taken with the kindest intention toward me. Through their agency I got rid of the stock which had been set apart for me. They got Mr. Benjamin Hart to take it off my hands. Not a word ever passed between Mr. Hart and myself about it….” Mild toning, a few faint stains, and subtle show-through of ink, otherwise fine condition. RRAuction COA.
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