Description:

John G. Parke
Near Petersburg, VA, March 14, 1865
Gen. Parke Conveys Grant's Orders to Open Fire at 5 AM
ALS

John G. Parke autograph letter signed to John C. Tidball. 1 p., 7.875" x 9.875"; Headquarters of IX Corps [east of Petersburg, VA]; March 14, 1865. Major General Parke forwards a press copy of General Grant's orders to General Tidball and commands that he have his artillery at readiness. Together with the press copy of the dispatch sent by Assistant Adjutant General George D. Ruggles. That day, Parke's IX Corps opened a heavy fire along the Petersburg lines, part of a coordinated effort to test Confederate defenses and support active operations on the front. Light wear at folds, which exhibit darker toning. Creasing throughout. Important primary document of the last weeks of the war.

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

In full:
"Hd. Qr. 9th Corps
March 14th 1865
12 m [midnight]

Genl Tidball
Chf of Arty [Chief of Artillery]

Gnl.
The enclosed dispatch just rec'd. Will you please give such directions as will enable the comd'g officer of Art. in the line to be prepared at once to meet any attack of the enemy, if such be his intention. And also to the Battery Comder not in the line, to be prepared to move at short notice.

Respy yours
Jno. G. Parke
Maj G."

Written during the closing weeks of the Siege of Petersburg, Parke conveys orders sent by General Grant ("The enclosed dispatch just rec'd") and directs Tidball to issue immediate orders to comply.

The dispatch to which Parke is referring was sent by George D. Ruggles a few hours earlier at 8:30 PM. The press copy, addressed to Tidball at bottom, reads: "The Comdg. Genl. [Ulysses Grant] desires that you place all your artillery in position and open with your guns upon the enemy at 5 o'clock a.m. tomorrow: In case you should discover, on his part, any intention to evacuate his position or any evidence of weakness, you will follow this bombardment by an assault upon his lines."

Although there is nothing to confirm that the IX Corps opened fire at exactly 5 AM, per Grant's orders, it is recorded that Parke's IX Corps maintained a steady and deliberate artillery fire along the Petersburg lines, as part of the ongoing demonstrations and pressure applied to Confederate works in the final weeks of the siege. Such ordered demonstrations reflected Grant's methodical approach in March 1865; probing the Confederate line, fixing its defenders in place, and preparing the way for the decisive operations that would soon culminate in the collapse of Petersburg and Richmond.

Penned less than three weeks before the Union breakthrough at Petersburg (April 2) and the ensuing retreat of Robert E. Lee westward to his surrender at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, this letter stands at the very threshold of the Confederacy's collapse.

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 7.875"
  • Medium: ALS

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