Description:

Robert E. Lee
Gettysburg, VA, July 4, 1863
Lee to Meade: His Only Letter in Private Hands From Gettysburg! Re: Wounded Confed!
LS
A letter of the utmost rarity and historical significance, the probable sole communication in private hands between Confederate commanders on the Gettysburg battlefield, written by Robert E. Lee to General George Meade on the third day of the historic battle. One page, the actual size of the letter measuring 7.75" x 10", "Hd Qrs Army of Northern Va", July 4, 1863 to "The Commanding Officer" of the U.S. Army of the Potomac, George Meade, requesting information about Hugh R. Miller, Colonel of the 42nd Mississippi Vols who, that very day, was in temporary charge of Joseph Davis' brigade. Silked for preservation. Text a bit light but entirely legible, with Lee's signature fine and bold. The letter is displayed above a high-quality photo reproduction of a print showing Lee on horseback. Matted, the overall size 22.375" x 11.875" x .625."

Colonel Hugh Reid Miller (1812-1863) was a former politician in the Mississippi House of Representatives and an attorney. Miller was one of the "Committee of Fifteen" that drafted the Ordinance of Secession. Following the 1860 State Convention from Pontotoc County, Miller rejoined the Pontotoc "Minute Men," mustering into the Confederate Army as Company G of the Second Mississippi Regiment. 

In 1862, he joined the 42nd Regiment of Mississippi Volunteers as part of Joseph Davis' Brigade; however on July 3, 1863, Miller had been placed in command of Joseph R. Davis's brigade supporting Pickett during the disastrous charge after Davis was wounded.

During the Battle of Cemetery Hill, near Seminary Ridge at 3pm, Miller was severely wounded in what would later be known as Longstreet's Assault. Interestedly, Joseph Davis did not make mention of his replacement Miller's injury in his battle report written in August, 1863, but it appears that he was shot in the chest near a fence close to Union forces, with Confederate and Union forces intermingled. His son, Edwin Hugh Miller, allowed himself to be captured so that he could search for his father among the wounded and stay with him. Miller was then transported to the home of the Myers family in Gettysburg and would die there of his wounds on July 19, 1863. Edwin escorted his father's body back to Richmond, Virginia, and a military funeral, attended by Jefferson Davis, among others, was held on July 29, 1863 at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond. Miller was eventually brought to his final resting place in the Odd Fellows Cemetery, Aberdeen, Mississippi.

Inquiring on behalf of Miller's concerned son, Lee writes to Meade, in part: "…The son of Col. Hugh W. Miller, 42nd Regiment Mississippi Volunteers, who was wounded and taken prisoner in the engagement of yesterday is very anxious to learn his father's condition. Any information you may be able to furnish concerning the fate of Col. Miller will be thankfully received…".

This exceptional letter is noted in "Wasted Valor: The Confederate Dead at Gettysburg," by Gregory A. Coco (Gettysburg: Thomas Publications, 1990), with a footnote citing "Lee's Colonels" by Robert K. Krick as the origination of the information. Coco states that while on the field, Andrew B. Cross of the U.S. Christian Commission, 3rd Division Camp of the Union Second Corps recalled Miller's injury: "In a fence corner just above us, among our men, lay Colonel Hugh R. Miller…shot through the left breast and right knee. We gave him a little wine and a cracker, which he took with great modesty, saying he was not dangerously wounded, but was thankful for our offer to write to his wife, Mrs. Susan G. Miller…The Surgeon told us his case was dangerous. Calling again after a short time to see if he would have anything, he modestly said: ‘I am very much obliged to you, but give it to those around, who are worse, and need it more.' On the 20th [June], we met his son in the office of Colonel [Henry C.] Alleman, stating that his father was dead…".

On his dying day, Miller received a visit by Chaplain Thomas D. Witherspoon of the 42nd Mississippi, who had stayed in Gettysburg after the battle to tend to the wounded. Coco quotes the following remembrance from the Chaplain: "…On the very day [July 19] before the order came to break up our field hospital, tidings had come to us that the Colonel…was lying mortally wounded in a private residence in Gettysburg, and expressed a desire to see me...I reached his bedside just in time to receive his dying expression of his faith in Christ….Through the generosity of a kind family…at whose home Colonel Miller had been so assiduously and tenderly cared for, the services of the embalmer were secured, and the body skillfully embalmed...The commandant of the post of Gettysburg...was a true gentleman as well as a true soldier, and on application being made to him to send the remains through the lines by flag of truce, did all he could to further this end...He allowed Edwin Miller...and myself, the Chaplain, to accompany the remains as escort with a letter to Gen. Schenck, the commandant at Baltimore requesting that we be permitted to accompany the remains by flag of truce to Richmond".

Miller's demeanor and service were esteemed by his troops, evidenced by an August 15, 1863 "Resolution upon his death of Hugh R. Miller" written from Davis' Brigade while encamped on the Rapidan River. The Brigade holds an assembly and resolves to: "…mourn their gifted & promising leaders who from time to time have fallen in the contest… by his learning & incorruptible integrity as a Jurist, [Miller] commanded the highest respect & confidence in his people…made the unblemished record of a patriot, that will constitute a rich legacy to his children and canonize his name with departed heroes…His Regiment must duly deplore his loss, and will ever hold in sacred remembrance his worth as an Officer, a friend and a gentleman…".

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: matted: 22.375" x 11.875" x .625"
  • Medium: LS

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