Description:

Jackson Thomas

Single page ALS, on light blue paper, 7.75" x 9.75", written on recto and verso. Dated "Fort Hamilton NY Oct 30th, 1849", and signed by Stonewall Jackson as "T.J. Jackson". Page lightly toned, expected folds else near fine.

Stonewall Jackson, war hero and one of the South’s most successful confederate generals during the American Civil War (1861-65) pens this letter shortly after graduating West Point (1846) and while thrust into the Mexican War. He quickly earned a reputation for toughness and bravery, and by the war’s end in 1848 he held the rank of brevet major. Written from Fort Hamilton, NY, his lengthy letter written to Thomas Sidney Jesup, General, a United States Army officer known as the "Father of the Modern Quartermaster Corps" . The letter is penned entirely in Jackson's hand and champions special treatment of William Smith noting "his regulation allowance of wood (1/6 of a cord) is not sufficient for his necessary wants."Jackson comments that he performs duties of both the Quartermaster and Commissary Sergeant, in addition to those of an Ordnance sergeant.

A spectacular lengthy Jackson ALS, demonstrating his personal drive to take care of his men, especially fascinating in that he was better known for his brusqueness, lack of sympathy and eccentric behavior later in his life. The letter shown in full below:

"General

The ordnance sergeant of this post, William Smith, being a married man is so situated as to be unable to mess with the troops of this post and accordingly the Commissary General has directed his rations to be commuted. And as he occupies separate quarters, his regulation allowance of wood (1/6 of a cord) is not sufficient for his necessary wants. And Maj. L. Whiting the commanding officer, (by whose direction I make this communication) sugested (sic) that he should receive the fuel contemplated under the 958 paragraph of the Army regulations. But as the fuel would be directed from its appropriate use, I could not make the necessary certificate. And the only way in which I can conceive of his receiving an additional allowance, will be to issue to him the quantity, which by your authority may be allowed for the office of the A. assistant quartermaster. As he occupies a port of the same casemate as that which contains the office, the (illegible) in his quarters might make the office comfortable enough to enable him to do the necessary writing in the office. In addition to his duties as Ordnance sergeant

Page two

he performs those of Quartermaster and Commissary Sergeant.

I am, General, / Very respectfully / Your Obdt. Servt. /

T. J. Jackson / 1 Lt. & Bvt. Maj. 1st Arty. / A. A. Gen."

Later in life and during the first wave of secession from December 1860 through February 1861, during which time seven Southern states declared their independence from the U.S., Jackson hoped that his home state of Virginia would remain in the Union. However, when Virginia seceded in April 1861, he supported the Confederacy, showing his loyalty to his state over the federal government. His widely publicized exploits had elevated him to legendary status among Southern soldiers and citizens alike. Jackson’s bravery and success inspired devotion from his soldiers, but to his officers, he was known as overly secretive and difficult to please. He frequently punished his officers for relatively minor violations of military discipline and rarely discussed his plans with them. Rather, they were expected to obey his orders without question.

Handwritten letters by Jackson are quite scarce, with this highly unique letter showing a very different side of this man.

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