ALS signed “George,” three lightly-lined pages on two adjoining sheets, 5.5 x 8, July 26, 1862. Letter to his cousin written from the Headquarters of the Army of the Potomac. In full: “Your letter accompanied by your likeness is received. I do not think you are flattered in the least by your likeness or else my memory serves me wrong. I am very thankful for it. I will send in return with this letter two of my self and am certain that after comparing them with your remembrance of my appearance you will have a very incorrect idea of what I look like, one is taken with my friend Washington who I have mentioned before as being a rebel officer captured by our troop at ‘Fair Oaks.’ Wm Jordan has been exchanged and is now on his way to the North he passed this place several days ago in company with quite a number of our wounded on board the steamer ‘Louisiana’ his wound was doing well. I do not know whether he will go home or not. The wounded would all be taken as far as Baltimore and from there I do not know what disposition would be made of them. I sent word of his release to his friends so that they could meet him at Baltimore if they desired to do so. Generals Halleck Burnside and Meigs arrived here yesterday from Washington to consult with General McClellan. They started to Washington this morning. Nothing interesting or exciting is transpiring here now except the reviewing of the different Corps d’Armee by their commanders and General McClellan. ‘Everything is quiet along the lines’ and promises to be so for a period. I wish I could write something to make my letter interesting but I cannot. Remember me to your parents.”
Old newspaper clippings about the massacre of Custer and his men at Little Big Horn are glued to the reverse of the last page. Accompanied by a print of a photograph of Custer posing with his cousin. In very good condition, with rippling to second page from adhesive, a mild overall shade of toning, a few creases and expected mailing folds, and trivial brushing to Custer’s signature.
The Battle of Fair Oaks took place on May 31 and June 1, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia. The “my friend Washington” referenced by Custer was J. B. Washington, great-grandnephew of George Washington, who had been captured while trying to deliver a message across enemy lines. The impromptu meeting between Custer and his former classmate led to a brief reunion in which the two men posed for photographs together. Aside from the Custer connection mentioned here, historians generally view the offensive as inclusive from a military standpoint: it did result in some 11,000 casualties and marked the end of a Union offensive. McClellan and his troops were eventually driven back in the Seven Days Battles of June 25 through July 1, 1862. A subsequent lull in fighting as mentioned by Custer here permitted a meeting between Burnside, Meigs, and McClellan and Lincoln. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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