Confederate general (1820–1863) noted for his defeats at Pea Ridge and Corinth in 1862. Known as an impulsive, emotional womanizer, he was murdered by a civilian who claimed that Van Dorn had carried on an affair with his wife. Civil War-dated endorsement, signed “Earl Van Dorn,” on the reverse docketing panel of an ALS to Robert E. Rodes, signed “Jno. R. Dickens, Major 12th Miss. Reg.,” three pages on two adjoining lightly-lined sheets, 7.75 x 9.75, Camp Van Dorn, November 14, 1861. In part: “I have the honor to report, that in obedience to your orders, on the evening of the 11th instant, I provided, with a battalion of four companies detailed from this the 2d Brigade to inspect and obstruct in a complete manner the various fords on Bull Run from this place to its intersection with the Occoquan. The first ford below this place is immediately before the present encampment of the 6th Alabama Col. Seibels’ Regiment and is known as the Yates’ ford. This ford I found completely blocked. The spade and axe had both been used so effectually that I added nothing to the obstructions.
Next about one and a fourth (1 1/4) miles below is Davis’ ford. Here, I found a main ford and several crossings both above and below it for horsemen. I added to the obstructions at the principle ford and also obstructed the crossings for horsemen. At this place the Command Bivouacked for the night and on the following morning having procured the services of a guide, I continued to descend the stream and passed in succession the Island ford, half mile behind, Laurel Hill ford, half mile further and Woodyards ford about one mile before the Laurel Hill. Before Woodyards, there are some crossings for horsemen, but no place that a carriage of any description can cross. I however had every place that a horseman could pass thoroughly obstructed. The only fords of any importance are Yates’, Davis’ and Woodyards. At the latter place there are two fords about six hundred yards apart. These fords had all been obstructed previous to the battle of Manassas Plains and those at Woodyards had very recently been further obstructed by the felling of timber and the sinking of pits, which were some-what removed by the late floods. I had other pits sunk and more timber felled in such a manner that future floods will not remove them. On the west bank at each of the Woodyard fords, there are recently constructed rifle pits, sufficient to shelter one hundred and fifty men.
After reaching the intersection of Bull Run with the Occoquan, I descended the latter stream to the Wolf Run shoals, at which place there is a fine ford, unobstructed, and watch by a small ford from the Hampton Legion: then I left the stream and marching two miles in the direction of this Camp, Bivouacked for the night, within the line of our Picketts. The next day after felling timber in some of the roads that lead to the various fords I returned with the Battalion to Camp.” Also docketed and signed on the reverse by Rodes, “Report of Maj. Dickens of 12 Miss. Regiment concerning fords and obstructions thereof in Bull Run—Union Mills, Nov. 15, 1861, Respectfully forwarded, R. E. Rodes, Brig. Genl.” Professionally inlaid into an off-white 8.75 x 11.5 sheet. Multiple horizontal folds, some with slight separations and one passing through a single letter of Van Dorn’s signature, moderate show-through from writing on opposing sides, mild scattered soiling, and a few pencil notations to reverse, otherwise fine condition. Accompanied by an unsigned original carte-de-visite portrait of Van Dorn, by Elias Dexter of New York.
After a string of appointments that kept the fiery Earl Van Dorn far from the burgeoning military action of the Civil War, he was given divisional command in the Confederate Army of the Potomac (which later became the Army of Northern Virginia) in September of 1861. Hoping to see combat, he competed for rank as the war got underway. Serving with Robert E. Rodes, who had opened the war in action at the First Battle of Bull Run four months prior, Van Dorn endorsed this thorough inspection of “the various fords on Bull Run from this place to its intersection with the Occoquan.” Noting and creating obstructions there, pointing out, for example, “recently constructed rifle pits, sufficient to shelter one hundred and fifty men,” their work helped prepare the Confederate forces for their victory at the Second Battle of Bull Run the following year. War-dated letters with such significant battle associations are incredibly desirable; this one, with its detailed descriptions of Rebel defenses at Manassas in 1861, is a fantastic piece endorsed by the Confederate general just two years before his death. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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