Geologist and Union officer (1836–1913) who served at Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, and South Mountain. He resigned his commission in 1863 and returned to mining. In 1885, President Cleveland named Kimball Director of the United States Mint, a position he held until October 1889. Unique and informative archive relating to the life and career of James P. Kimball, the first metallurgist to be appointed Director of the U.S. Mint. Included in this group are manuscript drafts of General Patrick’s battle reports from the Battle of Gainsville, Antietam, and South Mountain, two in Kimball’s hand and one in an unknown hand. The after-battle report from Antietam reads, in part: “I arrived within 3/4 of a mile of the road from Sharpsburg to Williamsport Pennsylvania reserves. Gen Mead['s] army became engaged on our left, and in the woods, with the enemy, they drove about half a mile…I was directed by a Staff Officer Gen. Hooker to place my brigade in, and hold, an open road, skirting Sharpsburg Road…although taking no part in the action, several of my men were wounded by the enemy's fire, before, and while, taking position in the wood. I was then directed to connect my pickets with those of Gen Meade on my left, but owing to the darkness it was sometime before this could be accomplished…The whole command lay on arms during the night and at daybreak next morning (17) the enemy opened fire upon us with round shot shells and canister, by which a few of our men were wounded.” He continues, noting the diversion by Doubleday into the cornfield. “Scarcely had my 3 Regts reached the wood when a body of the enemy was discovered filing off to our right and rear, into a cornfield…Hooker…directed that one of my Regts should be detached to watch and check the movement —Col Hoffman with the 23d Regt was dispatched to the right to head off he enemy in that direction and the 21st and 35th moved forward into the wood closing upon the two Regts. of Gibbon's Brigade whose skirmishers were now at the brow of the little eminence above the low grounds, in front of which was a cornfield from which came the enemy's fire —The fire of the enemy, up to this time was brisk not heavy, but on reaching this point a most galling fire was poured in from the enemy strongly posted behind the works on our left and my two Regts 21st and 35th were thrown forward into the first line to meet it—The troops on the opposite side of the road and fields and along the edge of the woods were now being driven rapidly back and to check this advantage of the enemy as well as to protect Battery 'B' on my left, I threw my whole command including the 7th Wisconsin and 19th Indiana across the open space and under the rocky ledge, perpendicular to my former position and parallel to the road, when I was joined at a double quick by the 23rd men relieved on the right by Gen. Meade. We remained but a few minutes here before we had checked the enemy's advance sufficiently to push our line up to the road which we held firmly for some time, the 35th Regt Capturing the colors of the Rebel Regt. advancing on the Battery. Rallying once more the enemy drove us back to the rocky ledge, which we held until our ammunition being almost exhausted and the line attacked in flank and rear on the right, I directed my Command to fall back to a line of rocks at right angles to the road and about 15 Rods from the wood, to hold there until Ammunition and reinforcements could be obtained.”
Also included are nine original carte-de-visite portraits of different soldiers, including Captain L. T. Lythe, Captain Rosecrans, W. W. Beckwith, Colonel Charles McClure, and Captain Philip Schuyler; and nine albumen portraits (seven removed from a scrapbook) with one labeled “Meade’s Headquarters, Battle of Gettysburg,” as well as two initialled “J. P. K.” One of the larger images originally taken by Timothy O’Sullivan shows the staff of Army of the Potomac Provost Marshal Marsena R. Patrick, labelled in an unknown hand, “In front of Dr. Talliferio’s near Culpepper, Va., 6 Oct. 1863,” showing (from left to right): Captain James P. Kimball, Lieutenant John Vernou Bouvier, General Marsena R. Patrick, Captain William W. Beckwith, Captain Lafayette Lyth, and Captain Harry Clinton. A second large image of Patrick and his staff on the front porch of a house shows (from left to right): Captain James P. Kimball, Lieutenant John Vernou Bouvier, General Marsena R. Patrick, Captain William W. Beckwith (standing), Captain Lafayette Lyth (seated), and Captain Harry Clinton.
Four ALSs from General George B. McClellan are included in this archive, three to Kimball, and one to another gentleman regarding Kimball’s work. All four are dated 1870. The three to Kimball are all signed “Geo. B. McClellan,” all on Steven’s Battery Office letterhead, two are one-page and the other is two pages in length. One dated July 18, 1870, reads, in part: “I have just received from Mr. Sloan the enclosed note, which is by no means what I had expected and hoped Gen. Randolph is to be over here this week, & I will try what is to be done with him.” A letter from McClellan to James Hunter mentioning Kimball reads, in part: “Of course a lot of visitors came in last night—so that I could not devote a great deal of time to Mr. Kimball’s papers—but I did read them once, & I believe the thing will work. Independently of what you say of him, there is something about Mr. K’s reports that command themselves to my mind—no nonsense, but the direct statements of a man who…understands his art.”
Other items include General Hardie’s acceptance of Kimball’s resignation, dated December 9, 1863; a printed “Special Orders No. 548,” dated December 10, 1863, announcing Lincoln’s acceptance of Kimball’s resignation; and a letter forwarding Kimball’s commission to Brevet Major, dated February 26, 1889.
In overall very good to fine condition. RR Auction COA.
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