War-dated LS signed “R. E. Lee,” one page, lightly lined, 7.75 x 10, Head-Quarters of the Virginia Forces letterhead, June 13, 1861. Letter to Colonel Charles Smith, in full: "Your communication of the 1st inst. has been received. Accompanying this I send you a copy of the 'Rules & Regulations for the Government of the Army of Virginia' and several blank muster rolls, as requested in yr letter. I have ordered the issue of a number of flints for your command but cannot at this time furnish you with caps, as the demand for them is great and the supply not more than sufficiently for our immediate wants. For this reason I cannot authorize the alteration you propose to make, from flint locks to percussion. You will forward to these Head Qrs at as early a day as possible a return of the number of troops mustered into the service, the style & condition of arms etc." In very good condition, with light overall staining, and rippling from being affixed to a slightly larger sheet.
On April 20, 1861, Lee resigned from the US Army, three days after his native state, Virginia, seceded from the Union. A strict Virginian loyalist, Lee was appointed commander of the state’s forces with the rank of major general just two days later. He spent the next few months raising and organizing the great bulk of its troops, building up strategic holds in Manassas and Harper’s Ferry, ever mindful of the Confederacy’s water defense in Norfolk and along the Potomac. Until the war’s end, a shortage of rations and supplies plagued the Southern cause, and the development of percussion caps, an invention that enabled muzzleloading weapons to fire reliably in any weather, soon had officers clamoring to replace their now archaic flintlock ignitions. A tense and significant letter relaying the wants and worries from early in the Civil War.
This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for
$150.00
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.
We use cookies on this site to improve your experience. By using this site, you accept our use of cookies. To learn more, please see our Privacy Policy.
