Description:

Ulysses Grant
City Point, VA, December 22, 1864
General Grant Directs Ord to Assist a French Commander in Communicating with the French Consul at Richmond
ALS

Ulysses S. Grant war-dated ALS with related papers. 2pp.; 5" x 8"; City Point, Virginia; December 22, 1864. Grant writes to General Ord asking him to assist "Commander Mirt of the French Navy." With four telegraphs (including 1 transmittal cover) to Ord from Grant and a secretarial copy of a report from Grant to the Secretary of War. All in very good condition, with flattened folds and occasional offsetting. Grant's letter has a few spots of dampstaining and small separations at the margins.

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

Grant's ALS on imprinted letterhead reads: "Lieut. Commander Mirt of the French Navy goes up the river to meet the subjects of his nation who are expected today. If they have not yet arrived you will please give him an opportunity of communicating with the French consuls at Richmond, by letter sent by flag of truce, or in such manner as you think advisable. Respectfully U.S. Grant / Lt. Gen."

In December 1864, France maintained a consul in Richmond as part of its policy of cautious neutrality during the Civil War. Although Napoleon III's government did not formally recognize the Confederacy, it acknowledged it as a belligerent power, allowing consular officials to operate without extending diplomatic recognition. Even late in the war, Richmond remained the center of Confederate authority, and maintaining a consular presence enabled France to safeguard its interests and retain flexibility as the conflict's outcome became increasingly clear. Grant would have been preparing for the final phase of the Petersburg–Richmond campaign, aiming to break Robert E. Lee's army and force the fall of the Confederate capital.

Of the four telegraphs, one is war dated from September 4, 1864: "The Regt at Harrison's Landing must be relieved as soon as its time is out." The report to Stanton includes excerpts from various Southern papers reporting the panic felt by the general public. In part: "The Augusta Constitutionalist of the seventeenth says that for several days the streets of that city have been thronged with fugitives from S.C. accompanied by their families, flocks, herds, cattles, servants and stock…"

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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