Description:

Horatio Van Cleve
Pikeville, TN, August 25, 1863
Ahead of Chickamauga, H.P. Van Cleve Requests Charges be Dropped Against his QM - Endorsed by Gen. Crittenden
LS

Horatio P. Van Cleve letter signed with an endorsement signed by Thomas L. Crittenden on the verso. Four pages of a bifolium, 7.75" x 9.875"; Pikeville, Tennessee; August 25, 1863. While in preparation for the Chickamauga Campaign, General Van Cleve writes to a Lt. Col. Goddard requesting that charges filed against his Division Quarter Master, Daniel Heany, be set aside citing it would be a "waste of precious time." General Crittenden signs with rank on the fourth page forwarding the matter: "T L Crittenden / Maj: Genl: Com:" Lightly toned, with soiling to the fourth page, more so along the folds – in no way affecting Crittenden's signature.

From the collection of Larry Berra, son of baseball legend Yogi Berra.

Van Cleve explains that charges had already been brought against Heany for "neglect of duty" in October of 1862, and that he had been tried and honorably acquitted. He explains that additional charges had been filed by the same officer, Samuel Beatty ("now Brig Genl.") and lists his reasons for not complying with arresting Heany, of which the second is: "In the present emergency I need the services of my Quarter Master and a Court could not be convened at this moment with any surety of finishing the case." He adds, "I am convinced that the prosecution of the charges would be a waste of precious time, of officers, and result in no good to the service; and being confident from my knowledge of the facts that it would result as the previous trial, in an honorable acquittal…" Signed, "H.P. Van Cleve."

In late August of 1863, Van Cleve and the Third Division were heading southward with plans to meet General William S. Rosecrans' forces to move into Georgia. Per the filing dockets, the matter was reviewed, and charges against Captain Heany were set aside.

Advancing from Pikeville (where this letter was written), Van Cleve's 3rd Division of XXI Corps moved south to unite with Rosecrans's Army of the Cumberland at the Tennessee River crossings near Bridgeport, Alabama. Concentrating with the main army in early September, the division crossed into Georgia and soon became engaged in the Battle of Chickamauga (September 19–20, 1863).

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 9.875" x 7.75"
  • Medium: LS

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