Description:

Charles G. Talcott
Richmond, VA, April 21, 1865
Rare and Unusual Confederate Parole Signed Days After Lee's Surrender, for Superintendent of Lee's Only Remaining Railroad
DS

A rare partly-printed Confederate document signed by Capt. Charles G. Talcott, the son of Lee's close friend Andrew Talcott and superintendent of the Richmond-Danville-Piedmont Railroad. Richmond, April 21, 1865. Discreet conservation to a tear accomplished on verso with archival tape; a bit of bleaching to right margin, wear to edges and additional folds. Overall, still good. 1p. 8.75" x 11". Much lesser paroles of Confederate soldiers even with this important date sell for $3,000-4,000!

This parole originates from the Headquarters Department of Virginia. By it, Talcott, as a military prisoner of war, agrees to not do anything "directly or indirectly to the detriment of the authority of the United States, until properly exchanged…". It further states that Talcott is permitted to return to his home in Georgetown, D.C.

Charles Gratiot Talcott (1834-1867) served as captain in the 4th Virginia Local Defense Force Infantry Regiment (Naval) in Richmond, and as Superintendent of the Richmond and Danville Railroads throughout the Civil War. Charles Talcott was the son of Lee's close friend, Confederate colonel noted engineer Andrew Talcott. After the war he was involved in several important public works, such as the Imperial Mexican Railway; the Potomac River at Great Falls in Fairfax County, Virginia; and the enlargement of the Erie Canal in New York.

At the time of Talcott's parole, the Richmond-Danville Railroad's connection with North Carolina's Piedmont Railroad was the only remaining link between Richmond and the rest of the South. Truly vital to the Confederacy's survival, it had been long desired and was built at the insistence of the Confederate government. The Richmond & Danville Railroad run by Talcott bought 99% of stock issued, built and ran the road which.

Despite its crucial role in the Confederate war effort, construction of the Piedmont line was slow and ad hoc, hampered by shortages in labor and supplies, and enemy attacks. According to Confederate railroad scholar Robert Black, "…its ties were too far apart, grading minimal, and ballasting, depots, platforms, water stations, firewood supplies, and sidings were far below requirements. Rolling stock was mostly provided by the Richmond & Danville and modified to the new road's North Carolina gauge. The rail was taken up from at least 5 Virginia and North Carolina railroads…".

Even with all this, Lee's railroad remained in use up to April 2, 1865 when it famously transported Jefferson Davis on the last train from Richmond by way of Danville to the South. Following Davis' departure, Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia reached Amelia Court House on April 4 to resupply troops, only for no Richmond-Danville train to arrive with supplies. He eventually abandoned his railway and any hopes linking up with Johnston. After five hard-fought days, Lee reached the Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865.

Charles Talcott's father was Andrew Talcott (1797-1883), a noted engineer and close friend of Lee. Talcott, born in Connecticut, met Lee while at West Point. He served as Lee's superior officer in an 1835 expedition to survey the Ohio-Michigan border, then resigned his commission to become a civil engineer. He and Lee remained friends and, when the hostilities broke out, accepted Lee's request to serve as a Colonel state Engineer in Virginia and was tasked with defending Richmond's coast and the James River. Despite his absence from the actual battle or the planning thereof, Talcott was arrested in 1863 on charges of being a Confederate spy. He was imprisoned in Fort Warren (Massachusetts) and eventually released by the efforts of General John A. Dix.

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: 8.75" x 11"
  • Medium: DS

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