Lot 315

"Grumble" Jones ALS re: Arrest of Kidnappers & Detailing of a Battalion to the Shenandoah Valley

Previous image preload Next image preload

"Grumble" Jones ALS re: Arrest of Kidnappers & Detailing of a Battalion to the Shenandoah Valley

Estimate: $500 - $700

Current Bid: $140

(1 Bid)

June 17, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
Wilton, CT, US

Description:

William E. "Grumble" Jones
New Market, VA, January 22, 1863
"Grumble" Jones ALS re: Arrest of Kidnappers & Detailing of a Battalion to the Shenandoah Valley
ALS

William E. "Grumble" Jones ALS to Col. Henry B. Davidson. 1p, 7.75" x 9.75"; New Market, Virginia; January 22, 1863. Written on lined paper to Colonel Henry B. Davidson concerning the arrest of kidnappers and transmitting papers (not present) regarding the detailing of a battalion to the Shenandoah Valley. Signed, "W. E. Jones / Brig Genl Comg." Text of letter is light due to the poor-quality ink available to the CSA. With a filing docket and a strip of paper along the right from prior mounting on verso.

Jones had been transferred to serve under Stonewall Jackson in the Valley District in December 1862, just a month before this January 22, 1863 letter. This transfer was part of Confederate efforts to strengthen cavalry operations in the Shenandoah Valley. Letter reads:

"Enclosed please find charges against Huff and Martin for kidnapping. Unless the civil authorities can take charge of these men against whom only civil charges are laid they will have to be discharged. When first sent to me I foresaw the impropriety of keeping or trying them soon at Front Royal and returned them to Stanton. They were returned down the Valley without my knowledge and are now on their way up again. Please tell Capt. Avis and the civil authorities we have something else to do and hope they will trouble us no more with these men.

You will also find two papers of our times given by Capt Avis. They are both prior to the date of my interview with you on this subject. A battalion from N. Va. has been ordered to the Valley. They are mounted and good material for a Md. Rifle Regt. This matter will be pushed ahead…"

The "something else to do" to which Jones refers was the reorganization of the cavalry that would prove crucial to the Confederacy's spring campaigns. With Jones now under Jackson's command, the reorganization made for a more unified defense of the strategically important Shenandoah Valley, which served as both a Confederate supply route and avenue for potential Northern advances.

Henry B. Davidson, the recipient of this letter, would be promoted to brigadier general in August 1863.

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.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

  • Dimensions: 9.75 x 7.75
  • Medium: ALS

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000