Previous image preload Next image preload
Back to catalog
Lot 18
image_0 image_1 image_2 image_3 image_4
Judah P. Benjamin Superb War-Dated Great Content ALS Mentioning Jefferson Davis, Joseph Johnston, and J.E.B. Stuart
Judah P. Benjamin Superb War-Dated Great Content ALS Mentioning Jefferson Davis, Joseph Johnston, and J.E.B. Stuart
image_0 image_1 image_2 image_3 image_4
Description:

Benjamin Judah



Judah P. Benjamin Superb War-Dated Great Content ALS Mentioning Jefferson Davis, Joseph Johnston, and J.E.B. Stuart

 

3pp ALS with integral address leaf inscribed and signed by then Acting Confederate Secretary of War Judah P. Benjamin (1811-1884) as “J.P. Benjamin,” the last letter of his surname extending downward in a 1” long semi-circular flourish, at the top of the third page. Written in Richmond, Virginia on October 31, 1861. On partly printed “Confederate States of America, / War Department, / Richmond, --- 1861” letterhead. The cream blue-lined bifold paper has expected light toning, paper folds, isolated discolored spots,a few chipped edges, and an old tape hinge. The bifold gutter has been professionally reinforced with a linen strip. Else in very good to near fine condition. The first, third, and fourth page/integral address leaf features writing, while the second page is blank. 8.375” x 10”.

 

This remarkable war memorandum, sent by Acting Secretary of War Judah Benjamin to Major General Earl Van Dorn within the first six months of the Civil War, name drops three of the most significant political and military personages of the Confederacy: President Jefferson Davis (1808-1889), General Joseph E. Johnston (1807-1891), and Brigadier General J.E.B. Stuart (1833-1864). The letter enables us to more fully understand the internal workings of both the Confederate States of America and the Confederate States Army. Maintaining hierarchy and establishing a top-down chain of command was critical to both institutions. Here, Benjamin functions as the President’s spokesman, public relations executive, and war minister, diplomatically conveying a message from his superior to a subordinate. Although Major General Van Dorn was welcomed to provide feedback, Benjamin’s letter made it clear that General Johnston’s wishes--as the Commander of the Confederate Army of the Potomac—would likely take precedence in President Davis’s decision-making.

 

In full, with untouched spelling and punctuation:

 

“Confederate States of America,

War Department,

Richmond, 31st October 1861.

 

Sir

 

In the reorganization of the Army of the Potomac, your Command of the First division was intended by the President to be composed of all the cavalry, two brigades of Mississippians and Hampton's Legion - The infantry was attached to the cavalry because we had not enough cavalry to form for you a division -



Genl Johnston the commander of the Department of Northern Virginia has suggested some objections to this disposal of the Cavalry, which seem to us well founded, and has proposed that additional brigades of infantry be assigned to your division, leaving the cavalry under his immediate separate command –

 

Before however making any change the President will receive your views on the matter and consider them –

 

The objections made by Genl Johnston and to which the President is disposed to attach great weight, are, ‘that all the cavalry of the army is now employed on outpost duty: the officer at the head of that service (Brig Genl Stuart) should be under the immediate orders of the commander of the army and make his reports to and receive his instructions from him - In like manner in battle the commanding General must keep under his own control, the largest portion of the cavalry, so that Genl Van Dorn's division would actually become the weakest in the army, altho’ he is the senior Major General with high reputation’ -


In addition to this is the consideration that your rank would entitle you to the right flank wing, and in any battle that may occur in the neighborhood of the present position of the army, the ground to the right is unfavorable for cavalry, which would of necessity be thrown to the centre or to the left, thus separating you from either the cavalry or the infantry of your division during actual conflict –

 

The President is therefore inclined to increase your division by the assignment of other infantry brigades to its due strength in proportion to your rank and to leave the cavalry as a separate command –

 

Be good enough to answer me as promptly as possible –

 

Yr obt St

J.P. Benjamin

Acting Sec of War

 

Major Genl Earl Van Dorn

Army of the Potomac.”

 

The Confederate Army of the Potomac was in a state of transition in late 1861. After its only major military engagement at the First Battle of Bull Run, the Army of the Potomac would be reorganized and consolidated with the Army of the Shenandoah to become the Army of Northern Virginia after March 1862. The Army of Northern Virginia, which ranged in strength between 50,000-95,000 soldiers over the next three years, would participate in the most pivotal battles of the Civil War: Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Petersburg… The Army of Northern Virginia was commanded by General Joseph E. Johnston between October 1861 and May 1862, whereupon it soon fell to General Robert E. Lee.

 

Judah P. Benjamin was the first man of Jewish heritage and faith to be elected to the U.S. Senate, and the first to hold a cabinet level position (Confederacy). A lawyer, planter, and slavery advocate, Benjamin represented Louisiana in the U.S. Senate between 1853-1861. President Jefferson Davis appointed Benjamin 1st Confederate Attorney General in February 1861, moved him to head the War Department in September 1861, and finally assigned him to the State Department in March 1862. Benjamin’s 6-month-long tenure as Secretary of War is largely overshadowed by his later diplomatic work to gain recognition for the Confederacy abroad.

 

Benjamin’s letter recipient, Major General Earl Van Dorn, was a career soldier from Mississippi. The West Point cadet had fought in the Mexican-American War as well as in the Indian Wars. He had been promoted to the rank of Major General on September 19, 1861, and five days later was given command of the 1st Division of the Confederate Army of the Potomac (there were four divisions in the defense district of the Potomac at that time.) Major General Van Dorn would serve in this position until early 1862, when he was reassigned to command the Trans-Mississippi District. Van Dorn was murdered in May 1863 by a Tennessee doctor who believed the gallant officer had seduced his wife.

 

General Joseph E. Johnston, like Van Dorn, was academy-educated and a veteran of the Mexican-American and Indian Wars. Although Johnston was promoted to the rank of CSA General in August 1861, he felt that President Davis had slighted him by advancing other Confederate officers whom Johnston had previously outranked in the U.S. Army. This complicates our picture of Confederate bureaucracy: how much did personality and interpersonal conflict impact military outcome and political stability?

 

Brigadier General J.E.B. Stuart had attained that rank by age 28. Educated at West Point and a veteran of Bleeding Kansas and the Western Indian Wars, Stuart was given command of the cavalry brigade of the Confederate Army of the Potomac. By the summer of 1863, he assumed command of the Cavalry Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia. Stuart was mortally wounded at the 1864 Battle of Yellow Tavern.

 

Wade Hampton III (1818-1902) was a Confederate cavalry officer who personally funded eleven units of artillery, infantry, and cavalry within "Hampton's Legion."

 

Great content in a letter interconnecting five significant players in the Confederacy: Benjamin, Davis, Johnston, Stuart, and Van Dorn!

 

 


WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

 

Accepted Forms of Payment:

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

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!
Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. ***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR SHIPMENT TO BE SENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE ON FILE WITH INVALUABLE, YOU WILL NEED TO INFORM US OF THIS AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS SUBMITTED FOR YOUR WINNINGS. ALSO, ALL PACKAGES SHIPPED FROM OUR OFFICES REQUIRE A DIRECT SIGNATURE UPON DELIVERY.*** Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, 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