Description:

Robert E. Lee
Orange, VA, March 26, 1863
War Dated Robert E. Lee LS Re: Jones-Imboden Raid in 1863
LS

ROBERT E. LEE, Letter Signed, to Archibald H. Cole, March 26, 1863, Headquarters, Army of Northern Virginia, [Orange], Virginia. 1 p., 7.875" x 9.125". Separations on folds repaired on verso with tape; red "Rebel Archives" stamp on verso.

In this brief letter, General Robert E. Lee writes the Inspector General of Field Transportation in Richmond that he had received his telegram and appreciated his attention to supplying wagons and teams to General John B. Imboden.

At the time, Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia were near Orange, Virginia, after having successfully resisted the Union Army at the Battle of Fredericksburg from December 11-15, 1862. Lee was also planning an invasion of Pennsylvania that led to the Battle of Gettysburg just over three months later.

On the same date of this letter, he also sent a letter to Confederate Cavalry General William E. Jones in the Shenandoah Valley district. Two weeks earlier, Lee had accepted Brigadier General John D. Imboden's plan for a two-pronged attack on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad near Rowlesburg, (West) Virginia. Although the Confederates met several checks to their progress from Union garrisons and were hampered by swollen rivers and bad roads, they managed to destroy the bridge over the Monongahela River, the most expensive structure on the entire B&O line. They also destroyed oil wells and reserves at Burning Springs, (West) Virginia. The month-long raid involved more than 6,000 Confederates in two separate units that combined twice during the raid and covered more than 1,100 miles. The Confederates captured more than 4,000 head of cattle, 2,000 horses, and around 1,000 small firearms. Although they damaged or destroyed 26 bridges, one tunnel, 2 locomotives, and miles of track and telegraph lines, the B&O resumed operations after only ten days. Less than a month later, on June 20, 1863, Congress formally admitted West Virginia as the 35th state.

Complete Transcript
Head Quarters Army No Va
March 26th 1863
Maj. A. H Cole
Inspr Genl Transpt
Richmond
Major,
Your telegram of the 20th inst was duly rec'd though I did not think it necessary to acknowledge it at once. I immediately wrote to Gen'l Imboden informing him that Maj. Bell was authorized to furnish the wagons & teams he required.
Please accept my thanks for your very prompt attention to my request.
I have the honor to be
Very Respy
Your Obt Servt
R E Lee
Gen

Archibald H. Cole (1813-1879) was born in Virginia. He became a wealthy planter and slaveowner in Putnam County, Florida. With David Levy Yulee, he built the Florida Railroad from Fernandina to Cedar Key. During the Civil War, he volunteered his services in 1861 and served as a major in the quartermaster's department. In October 1862, he was appointed as inspector-general of field transportation for the Confederate Army, with headquarters at Richmond. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel at the end of the war. He was responsible for providing horses and mules for artillery and transportation services for all Confederate armies east of the Mississippi River. He surrendered at Tallahassee, Florida, in May 1865 and was paroled.

Provenance: Christie's auction in 1999, $12,650.

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: 7.875" x 9.125"
  • Medium: LS

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