Description:

Thomas Crittenden
Frankfort, KY, December 22, 1863
Gen. Crittenden ALS to Gen. Halleck Defending the Honor of His Corps at Chickamauga!
ALS

Thomas Crittenden ALS, two pages, 7.75" x 9.75"; Frankfurt, Kentucky; December 22, 1863. General Crittenden writes to Major General Henry W. Halleck disputing a report on the Battle of Chickamauga published in the "New York Herald" attributed to Halleck. Crittenden quotes from the report which stated that he had been carried to Chattanooga by his confused troops. He insists that Halleck "examine the matter" and "correct a report which has done such cruel injustice to a corps, justly proud of its reputation." Signed, "T.L. Crittenden / Maj. Gen U.S. Vols." Lightly toned, with moderate wear along the folds where minor separations have been reinforced. Additional small repairs made along the top on verso. Loss to top and bottom corners at right. Fantastic content by a general defending his honor and that of his men!

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

In full:

"General,

The New York Herald of the 12th Inst. contains what purports to be your report on the late operations of the armies of the U. States. I would most respectfully call the attention of the Gen. in Chief to the following sentences contained in this report, referring to the army of the Cumberland:

'Our right & part of the centre had been completely broken, & fled in confusion from the field, carrying with them to Chattanooga their commanders, Gens. McCook & Crittenden, and also Genl. Rosecrans, who was on that part of the line." In another place you say, "As most of the corps of McCook & Crittenden were now in Chattanooga, it was deemed advisable to withdraw the left wing to that place.' In another place you say, ‘As most of the corps of McCook & Crittenden were now in Chattanooga, it was deemed advisable to withdraw the left wing to that place.'

I deem it my duty to the 21st army-corps, & my duty to you, Sir, to say not only, that no part of my corps was in Chattanooga, but that all except five regiments fought with the left wing till the close of the battle, and that these five regiments were cut off from the main army, which the left wing had grown to be, in the act of going to its support.

I did go to Chattanooga & this to some extent may have misled the Gen. in Chief. But no confused troops carried me there, nor did I carry with me any troops. In truth, I had none to carry. Whatever counter reports or statements have been made to the Gen. in Chief, I engage to disprove by the general testimony of the army officers & all.

Under these circumstances, I most respectfully & earnestly entreat the Gen. in Chief to examine further into the matter. Then I am sure, he will correct a report which does such cruel injustice to a corps, justly proud of its reputation.

I have the honor to be,
Very respectfully,
Your obt. servt.,
T. L. Crittenden
Maj. Genl. U.S. Vols."

An incredible letter written three months after the Battle of Chickamauga, where Crittenden's XXI Corps fought hard under difficult and chaotic conditions, particularly on the Union left. Early reports attributed to Halleck incorrectly suggested that Crittenden and his troops had fled in confusion to Chattanooga. With this letter, Crittenden confronts Halleck; his choice to refer to Halleck in the third person is respectfully defiant. Halleck was stationed in Washington, so what appeared in the "Herald" were likely telegraphic summaries and official communications, not a firsthand battle report. These misreports, born of confusion and incomplete information after the Union defeat, unfairly tarnished the reputation of a corps that had, in fact, remained engaged and performed creditably under fire.

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: 9.75" x 7.75"
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