Confederate general (1832–1904) who surrendered Lee’s army to Union General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain at Appomattox Courthouse. ALS signed “J. B. Gordon,” three pages on two adjoining sheets, 5.5 x 8.5, September 1, 1886. Gordon writes Clarence H. Bell of Boston requesting that he pass along regret over not being able to attend a GAR meeting. In part: “I have been nominated & will doubtless be elected in October Governor of this State. The inauguration occurs the first of November when our General Assembly convenes.” In very good condition, with horizontal mailing folds one passing through his signature, small separations along the folds, a missing piece of paper at the top of the first page with a vintage tape repair to a tear, and edge chipping. A firm opponent of Reconstruction who endorsed the preservation of a white-dominated society, Gordon served as Georgia’s governor from 1886 to 1891. RRAuction COA.
