Description:

Albert H. Campbell
various, ca. 1847-1865
Albert H. Campbell "Lee's Map Maker" Appomattox Relic Archive of Apple Tree and Documents
Archive
A small archive relating to Albert Henry Campbell, who was known as "General Lee's map-maker". The group includes Campbell's university diploma, an appointment from the War Department, and a small twig taken as a souvenir from Appomattox Court House with accompanying provenance. Please refer to the photographs for condition information. The document have flattened folds, creasing and wear - with some small separations or tears in places. Light soiling and toning. The box which the twig is kept in has been flattened. Overall, very good.

The archive includes the following:
1. Albert H. Campbell's Diploma from Brown University. In Latin. Dated September 1, 1847, signed by President Francis Wayland. Campbell graduated First in Arts.

2. Letter Signed Secretary of War George Randolph to Captain Campbell. Richmond, dated June 6, 1862. Appointing Campbell as Captain of Engineers to report to Major W. H. Stevens. Signed "Geo W Randolph."

3. Twig kept as a souvenir from the Appomattox Court House apple tree, taken April 9, 1865. Accompanied by a labelled box and autograph letter from Campbell providing provenance for the piece. The box reads: "1st Cutting from apple tree at Appomattox C.H. Va under which Gen Lee sat April 9, 1865 when conducting negotiations with Gen Grant for the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia. Cut by A. H. Campbell Maj of Eng. C.S.A." The letter of provenance states something very similar.

Albert H. Campbell (1826-1899) was an American civil engineer and explorer. Prior to the Civil War, Campbell served the U.S. government in surveying the Far West for a transcontinental railroad. Beginning in 1854, Campbell participated in Amiel Whipple's survey through New Mexico and Arizona, and then in John Parke's survey to San Diego. Campbell was a competent artist and drew landscapes of the California and Arizona countryside on both expeditions.

When the Civil War broke out, General Robert E. Lee, a former army engineer himself, took prompt action to improve the Confederate mapping situation. Five days after assuming command of the Army of Northern Virginia, Lee assigned Captain (later Major) Albert H. Campbell to head the Topographical Department. Surveying parties were sent into the countryside around Richmond to collect the data for an accurate map of the Confederate capital, and soon after, other parties were dispatched into the surrounding counties where fighting seemed likely to occur. Based on this new information, Confederate engineers under the direction of Campbell prepared detailed maps of most counties in eastern and central Virginia. These maps today are sometimes referred to as the Gilmer-Campbell maps or the "Lost War Maps of the Confederates," because their whereabouts were unknown until many years after the war.

One of the most enduring myths of Appomattox Court House surrounds the Apple Tree site, where it was believed General Lee met with General Grant to surrender his army. This story was carried on and largely accepted by soldiers and was even published in several books after the war. As Campbell writes to G.W. Custis Lee and Dr. Jones, however, this version of the tale was not wholly correct. Grant was riding hard to reach Appomattox along with his troops, but he was 22 miles away and there was some uncertainty over whether the message would be received and if the fighting would continue. Upon receiving the message, however, Grant sent two staff officers, Colonel Orville Babcock and Captain William McKee Dunn, to ride ahead. After some difficulty and confusion, Babcock crossed into Confederate lines under a flag of truce, and he found Lee resting in an apple orchard near the village, by the Appomattox River. From a distance, Babcock bore a resemblance to Grant, which is how this myth came into being about the surrender at Appomattox. So prevalent was the tale, that it caused many soldiers to chop down most of the apple trees in the orchard as souvenirs of the "surrender." The two generals would actually meet at the McLean House, where the official surrender was conducted. The tale is a great example of how stories grow out of a mixture of facts and misinformation.

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: 8.5" x 11"
  • Medium: Archive

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