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Lot 32
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U.S. Grant War-Dated AES Advising on Plan to Capture Mosby Near Fredericksburg, Exciting!
U.S. Grant War-Dated AES Advising on Plan to Capture Mosby Near Fredericksburg, Exciting!
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Description:

Ulysses Grant
City Point, VA, December 30, 1864
U.S. Grant War-Dated AES Advising on Plan to Capture Mosby Near Fredericksburg, Exciting!
AES

An autograph endorsement from Ulysses S. Grant as Lieutenant General responding to a proposed expedition to capture commander John Mosby, who was injured near Fredericksburg a week prior. 1p, measuring 5" x 8", City Point, VA, December 29 & 30, 1864. Written on the verso of a 3pp letter from Colonel George H. Sharpe to Grant's military aide, Lt. Col. Theodore Bowers. Exhibits light age toning and handling marks throughout. Expected creasing and discoloration at folds. Isolated 2.5" separation at hinge. Else, very good. Remarkable military content!

Grant's endorsement reads in full:

"Hd Qrs. Armies of the U. States
City Point, VA, Dec. 30th 1864
Forward to Maj. Gen. Augur if convenient for you I would like this expedition made. Would advise a regiment or two of Infantry to accompany. They might also break up the rail-road south of Fredericksburg for new distance the cavalry moving as far south so they could go destroying bridges.
U. S. Grant/ Lt. Gen."

Sharpe's letter of the previous day states, in part:

"I notice by the Richmond papers that Mosby has been seriously wounded, and is being taken care of by some friends in Fredericksburg. A letter to that effect is published, and it would seem that the nature of Mosby's wound is such that he cannot have been removed.
Our scouts, in going through Fredericksburg largely, have found that it is fast becoming a depot for articles which have run the blockage from Washington. Large quantities of goods are brought out of Alexandria by so-called Union men living beyond our lines, are then re-sold to other parties who carry them to Fredericksburg, and are there exposed for sale in open market. Our men also in landing near Acquia Creek and the mouth of Potomac Creek, have continually net parties who were transporting goods across the Potomac River on rafts and otherwise, which goods are also taken to Fredericksburg and sold like the others.
Kinchelo's [sic] band of guerrillas, which belong in that part of the country, is believed to be disbanded; and it is not understood that any organized force in in Tangier, Stafford, or Spottsylvania counties. It seems that it would be entirely safe for a small force of from one to two hundred cavalry to be landed near the mouth of Acquia Creek or Potomac Creek after dark, and it is believed that they could go to Fredericksburg without molestation. If by this a blow could be given to the blockade business, and the capture of Mosby be effected, it seems to me that it would be worth while doing it."

Mosby had his closest brush with death on December 21, 1864, near Rector's Crossroads in Virginia. While dining with a local family, Mosby was fired on through a window, the ball entering his abdomen two inches below the navel. He managed to stagger into the bedroom and hide his coat, which had his only insignia of rank. The commander of the Union detachment, Maj. Douglas Frazar of the 13th New York Cavalry, entered the house and- not knowing the Confederate's identity- inspected the wound and pronounced it mortal. Although left for dead, Mosby recovered and returned to the war effort once again two months later.

George Henry Sharpe (1828-1900) had previously served as a captain in a New York regiment at the outbreak of the Civil War before returning to civilian life three months later. In 1862, at the request of the Governor of New York, he raised a new regiment and went back into service as a colonel with the Army of the Potomac. By the next year, Sharpe was approached by Joseph Hooker to command the Bureau of Military Information. He served in that role until the end of the war, after which he was promoted to brevet Major General.

Theodore Bowers (1832-1866) had enlisted in the Illinois Volunteers as a private and served throughout the war, eventually working on Grant's staff and later witnessing Lee's surrender at Appomattox. He was tragically killed in an accident while boarding the general's train at Garrison's Station at the age of 34.

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: 5" x 8"
  • Medium: AES

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