Description:

James Longstreet
Camp Worth, TX, May 29, 1849
James Longstreet ALS, Great Content Re: Camp Worth, Texas & Weapons from Mex-Am War!
ALS

A 1p autograph letter signed by career military officer James Longstreet (1821-1904) as "James Longstreet / Bt Maj + Adj 8th / Inft." near the bottom. May 29, 1849. Written at Camp Worth, near the present day city of Fort Worth, Texas. Inscribed on light blue stationery. Clerical annotations and other dockets are inscribed in another hand verso. Expected wear including flattened transmittal folds, some well-creased, with a few extra wrinkles. Slight discoloration to the right edge and the top horizontal fold, else near fine. 8.325" x 10.625." Provenance: Ex-E.E. Moore, 1968.

Longstreet addressed this letter to Brigadier General George Talcott (1786-1862), a career military officer who had slowly and methodically risen through the ranks within the Ordinance Department until his 1848 promotion to Chief of Ordinance, and his 1849 promotion to the rank of Brigadier General. In this letter, Longstreet apologizes for the delay in returning military ordinance and ordinance stores to the arsenal.

Longstreet wrote in full, with unchanged and original punctuation:

"Camp Worth Texas
May 29th 1849

Sir

I have the honor to transmit herewith a return of Ordinance and Ordinance Stores in my possession at the end of the last quarter of 1848. I have been unable to render this return sooner: owing to an unexpected and long separation from my Regiment. When the Regiment moved from Jefferson Barracks Mo. I was detained on a Court of Inquiry; and, as it was generally supposed that I would be detained but a few days, but the detention has been for several months.

I make the return at the earliest moment possible -

I am Sir very respectfully

Your mo obt servt

James Longstreet
Bt Maj + Adj 8th
Inft.

Brigr. General G. Talcott
Chief of Ordinance."

Longstreet had been promoted to the rank of Brevet Major following his meritorious service in the Mexican-American War, concluded just 15 months earlier, in February 1848. Between June 1847 and July 1849, Longstreet also served as Adjutant of the 8th Infantry. In 1849, Longstreet shuttled between Jefferson Barracks, Missouri and points south in Texas. Jefferson Barracks, a military post established along the Mississippi River in 1826, had played a critical role in transporting troops, arms, and other supplies to American forces engaged in the Mexican-American War. Longstreet's military postings in Texas in 1849 included Camp Worth, San Antonio, and Fort Lincoln.

"Camp Worth" had been formally established by General William J. Worth (its namesake) on June 6, 1849 near the present day city of Fort Worth. This means that Longstreet's letter to Talcott pre-dated the official launch of operations at Camp Worth. The military installation at Camp Worth was officially renamed Fort Worth by the U.S. War Department in November 1849, meaning that Longstreet's letter dates from a narrow window of time in which the post was still called "Camp Worth."

Camp Worth/Fort Worth was positioned along the Trinity River and also granted easy access to the Chisholm Trail, a major wagon trail leading into the Plains and Midwest. Its main objective was to protect cattle drovers, cowboys, settlers, and Western-bound migrants from American Indian raids. The post was commanded by Major Ripley Arnold from 1849-1853. It was abandoned in September 1853.

Brigadier General Talcott had first served in the Ordinance Department during the War of 1812. He supervised arsenals in New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania before becoming an Inspector of Arsenals and Armories. Like Longstreet, Talcott had been promoted because of his Mexican-American War service. Talcott's diligence and efficiency in ensuring that American forces had a generous supply of arms and ordinance in the recent conflict was thus rewarded.

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: 8.325" x 10.625"
  • Medium: ALS

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