Lot 43
Civil War - Superb contentfive page Civil War battle report by General Hamilton Prioleau Bee
Heavily written 5 page MS on laid paper, 7.75" x 11.5". Dated "April 10th, 1864", addressed to "Major Hart", and signed by General Hamilton Prioleau Bee as "H.P. Bee". Signed twice, once at the bottom of the letter, and a second time in the docket located on the verso, likely clerically. The signatures are quite close to our limited reference for Bee but fall short of our conclusive identification. Bound by a hand tied ribbon along the top edge. Intact tear present to the pages, all repaired mostly with archival document tape, and a bit of scotch tape. Edges are worn, light grubbiness and handling marks throughout. Expected folds with expert reinforced repairs along several folds with final page showing archival repair to the separation along the folds, associated paper loss in several places including affecting his closing title of "Brig. Genl. Commd" located under his signature.
An exceptionally rare lengthy Civil War five page letter/battle report, of General Hamilton Prioleau Bee. A nicely preserved "retained copy" from "Head Quarters, 1st Division of Cavalry/Pleasant Hill/April 10th, 1864", and addressed to "Major Hart/ Assistant Adj't Genl./Green's Cavalry Corps." The letter was written the day after the Battle of Pleasant Hill which had ended the eve of April 9th with Bee having had two different horses shot out from under him during a cavalry charge. Excellent content, the letter begins with "I have the honor to report the operations of the troops under my command during the battle of Mansfield and Pleasant Hill _Ü_" And then has excerpts as follows of "Debray's Bechels and Terrells Regiments rendezvoused at Mansfield having marched from the Colorado River in Texas. They advanced to meet the enemy now known to be approaching enforce. I at once placed the regiment in line of battle with intervals of 500 yards, who successfully met the enemy. Of the command the most of whom were under fire for the first time, were cool and deliberate behaving most satisfactory _Ü_ At 4 O'clock P.M. Genl. Walker advanced the Cavalry covering the right, being in the timber my march was slow _Ü_ unexpectedly encountered the 19th Army Corps of the enemy in position on the crest of the hill _Ü_ I received the gallant co-operation of Col. Randell and Col. E. Clark of Walker's Division and Col. Puchel of the Calvalry _Ü_ gallantly charged with his company the lines of the enemy for the purpose of drawing their fire preparatory to a charge of our Infantry losing Lieut. Willis, killed and several wounded. Major McNeel of my staff had his horse killed_Ü_ Capt. Borden of Bechels Regiment fell seriously wounded while gallantly leading his company _Ü_ The loss in my brigade consisting of Debray's, Terrells and Buchels regiment was 164 killed wounded and missing _Ü_ H.P. Bee / Brig Gen Comdg."
A handsome, highly detailed revealing battle report. Letters and manuscripts relating to Bee are extremely scarce.
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