Description:

Robert E. Lee
Petersburg, VA, October 29, 1864
Gen. Robert E. Lee: "prevent the advance of the enemy from E Tenn... aid in the defence of that place..." - Battle Content, Magnificent Display!
LS

ROBERT E. LEE, Manuscript Letter Signed, to Zebulon B. Vance, October 29, 1864, Headquarters, Army of Northern Virginia, [Petersburg, Virginia]. 1 p., 7.875" x 9.875", framed to 41.75" x 26.5". Dark text and signature; loss to upper right and left corners professionally repaired; Large frame is loose at 2 corners and is offered as buyer's choice.

As the Union Army under General Ulysses S. Grant tightened its grip on the Army of Northern Virginia in trenches around Richmond and Petersburg, Virginia, during the fall of 1864, Confederate General Robert E. Lee wanted to make sure that supplies could continue to reach him. The Confederate port of Wilmington, North Carolina, was the last one in the East still open to foreign trade, despite the Union blockade. The Wilmington and Weldon Railroad connected Wilmington with Richmond, Virginia.

In this letter, General Robert E. Lee writes to North Carolina Governor Zebulon B. Vance, urging him to transfer either the 67th or 68th North Carolina Infantry regiments, formed from earlier home guard units, from western North Carolina to Wilmington to aid in its defense. Both of these sister regiments were established by the State of North Carolina and not placed in service under the Confederate States Army. They were both under the authority of the governor and could not be sent out of the state. The 67th North Carolina was already in northeastern North Carolina, resisting Union advances there, while the 68th North Carolina operated largely in the western part of the state, including a raid into East Tennessee and guarding Union prisoners at Salisbury until December 1864, when they were ordered to march further east to meet threats from Union troops.

Complete Transcript
Hd Qrs Army N Va
29th Oct 1864
His Excy Z B Vance
Governor of N. Carolina.
Raleigh
Governor,
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th inst; and while I regret the facts you state, I thank you for your efforts on our behalf.
I am gratified to hear what you say of the Home Guards and Reserves, and trust that you will bring out as many as possible.
With reference to the 67th & 68th regts, I understand that one is in Western N. C. I hope that the troops under Col Palmer are sufficient for the necessities of that region, especially as he is now cooperating with Gen Breckenridge so as to prevent the advance of the enemy from E Tenn. I would therefore advise that whichever one of the regts above referred to is in West N.C. be sent to Wilmington to aid in the defence of that place.
Very respy
Your obt servt
R E Lee
Gen

Zebulon B. Vance (1830-1894) was born in North Carolina, and his father died when he was 13, plunging his family into relative poverty. He graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1852, then studied law with a state supreme court justice. He gained admission to the North Carolina bar in 1852 and began practicing law in Asheville. He served in the North Carolina Senate (1854-1856) and Congress (1858-1861). During the Civil War, he raised a company and became its captain. He became colonel of the 26th North Carolina Infantry in August 1861. In 1862, he ran for governor and served as war governor of North Carolina from September 1862 to May 1865. After the war, he was arrested, but President Andrew Johnson paroled him in July 1865 and formally pardoned him in March 1867. Vance practiced law in Statesville and Charlotte, again served as governor (1877-1879), and then as U.S. Senator (1879-1894).

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: actual letter: 7.875" x 9.875"; frame: approximately 41.75" x 26.5" x 2" (20 lbs)
  • Medium: LS

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