Signed endorsement, “Jeffer Davis, Sec. of War, 3rd Nov. 1855,” on the reverse of the second integral page of a letter to Davis from Colonel H. K. Craig, three lighly-lined sides of two adjoining sheets, 7.75 x 9.75. Craig’s letter reads, in part: “I have to acknowledge the receipts of Mr. E. Whitney’s communication to you…have the honor to report: In February 1853 Mr. Whitney preferred a similar claim to the War Department, using nearly the identical arguments in its favor, which he never advanced. The report which I then respectively submitted as applicable to the present case and answering it nearly in full as to leave me now only to remark on two points.
1st. As to the claim of Mr. Whitney to the merit of having led to the improvements in the manufacture of Fire Arms, I can only say that, in my opinion, it is a claim that might be advanced, to some extent, by nearly all the manufacturers of Arms for this Department. Most of them, for their own advantage, introducing some useful tool, machine, or improvement which were often transferred and still further improved upon not only at the National, but at the Private Armories…2nd. With regard to the employment of Private Armories in the manufacture of Arms of our new model I am decidedly opposed to it for two strong reasons—1st We will have at our National Armories a capacity for turning out, after our patterns, machines and tools are prepared 5000 Rifles and 20000 Musket Rifles per annum, and at the same time 2000 Pistol Carbines—2nd The multiplication of places of manufacture…are very costly and if not made with such care are fruitful sources of error…It will be seen from the reasons stated in the decision of the Secretary of War endorsed on my report of Feby 1853, that the contract there given to Mr. Whitney was intended to be a final one, and to enable him to adapt his works to other proposed.” Endorsed on the reverse in another hand, “Concurred in,” with Davis signing underneath. Panel is also endorsed by several others. Toning along folds and a couple of old tape repairs, otherwise fine condition.
Just five years before the same weapons would likely be used in the bloodiest war in American history, Secretary of War and future Confederate president Jefferson Davis endorsed a report from Colonel H. K. Craig regarding Eli Whitney, Jr., son of the famous cotton gin inventor. Craig evaluates Whitney’s claim “to the merit of having led to the improvements in the manufacture of Fire Arms” as well as his “employment of Private Armories in the manufacture of Arms,” both claims that have already been responded to with a contract in 1853. Davis concurs that that contract given by the War Department two years prior was intended to be “a final one, and to enable him to adapt his works to other proposed.” Upon taking over his father’s armory, Whitney bid successfully on the federal rifle contract of 1841 and manufactured what Davis considered to be the finest rifles ever issued to any regiment in the world. A rare document regarding gun sales between two prominent figures in the upcoming Civil War. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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