Confederate military officer and politician (1818–1902) who replaced J. E. B. Stuart as Lee’s Chief of Cavalry following Stuart’s death on the battlefield. Hampton later served as governor and senator from South Carolina. ALS, one lightly-lined page, both sides, 5 x 8, June 8, 1867. Hampton writes to a Mrs. Parker. In full: “It has been my good fortune to receive from kind friends all over the country contributions for the relief of our suffering people & as I know of no one upon whom the war has inflicted deeper wounds I venture to place a small sum at your disposal. These funds have been given to me for the sole purpose of alleviating the distress of our people and need feel no hesitation in accepting the small amount now sent to you. Most heartily do I wish that the amount was greater but small as it is it may enable you to add to the comfort of your children. I hope that God will spirit you and that you may yet live to enjoy peace and happiness. Mary is not very well which face she declares to be the only reason why she does not write to you. She begs me to give her love. She says she will write very soon.” Wrinkling, light creasing, and areas of staining affecting a few words of text, otherwise fine condition.
The Reconstruction Era was in full affect as the former Confederate military leader here offers aid to one of the “suffering people” upon whom “the war has inflicted [deep] wounds.” Two months earlier, Congress finalized legislation that dismantled Confederate state governments and divided the South into military districts. Ex-Confederates were barred from holding office, allowing only ‘traitors’ to the South or new immigrants from the North. Hampton and other conservative Southern leaders realized they would be unable to preserve their idea of the South—at times forcing him to reconsider the wisdom of surrender. Having grown into a symbol of white unity—while also reaching out to the South’s new black citizens—Hampton eventually decided that he could best serve the South by helping to rebuild it and to alleviate “the distress of our people” via charitable acts as the one here identified. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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