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![<b>"Tell Bob he ought to have been with us at Corinth. He thought he heard the cannons roar up in Tennessee, but he did not hear anything to what it was up at Corinth."</b>
3 pages, 6 1/4 x 8, written in a bold and neat pencil hand by Sergeant B.J. Caldwell, Co. G, 2nd Mississippi Cavalry, to his wife.
<b><u>Camp Near Salem, [Miss.], October the 16th, 1862</b></u>
Dear Wife,
I again take my pencil in hand to drop you a few lines to let you hear from me again. I have no news to write on. Tom [is] well & doing very well. I was right sick last Saturday night & Sunday. I had a light chill Saturday night, but I think it was caused by getting wet Friday evening. We rode in the rain all evening & got very wet. Bob was sick yesterday but he is up today. The rest is well. Sally I received your kind letter sent by the Capt. & was very glad to hear from you & I would love to get another today for I study a good deal about home. Sally we are camped about 2 miles west of Salem, but I can’t tell how long we will stay here nor where we will go to, but if the Yankees get down in our country I would love to come down there. Sally I wrote you a letter last week & sent it by mail, but it is uncertain whether you got it or not. I want you to have your corn gathered as soon as you can & if the army comes down there put your fattening hogs up & you must do what you all think best with Beck. You are all there & know how things is better than I do. Sally we have heard that the Yankees has got down to Tupelo & if they have I am afraid they will be all over the country & if they are I would like to come down there & help drive them back, but if they do come treat them as well as you can & if you have any meat or anything that they can take hide it out for that is the way the folks has had to do up here. Sally I am sorry to hear of the Cherry Creek Boys being tore up so bad, but I am in hopes it is not as bad as we heard it was, but I want you to write to me what has become of Ben for I can’t hear nothing from him. Sally tell all of the old folks that I would write them a letter this evening if I had time, but it is time to commence getting supper & Mr. Shettels is going to start home in the morning & I want to send my letter by him. Tell Bob he ought to have been with us at Corinth. He thought he heard the cannons roar up in Tennessee, but he did not hear anything to what it was up at Corinth. Sam Campbell said he never heard the like. Give my love to all & be certain to write when ever you have the chance of sending a letter, Nothing more only I remain yours until death.
B.J. Caldwell
Written on the back panel is, "Mrs. Sarah B. Caldwell, Cherry Creek, Miss. By the politeness of Mr. Shettels."
Light age toning and wear with some scattered light staining. Typical misspelling and grammatical errors. Excellent content. Scarce.
The 2nd Mississippi Cavalry fought in the army corps of Price, Jackson, Van Dorn, Lee and N.B. Forrest, and in the armies of the Department of Mississippi & East Louisiana, Army of Tennessee, Department of the West, Army of Mississippi, and the Department of Alabama, Mississippi & East Louisiana. After skirmishing in Mississippi it saw action at Various conflicts in North Georgia and Alabama. Some of the men were captured in the fight at Selma, and only a remnant surrendered with the Department of Alabama, Mississippi and East Louisiana. The field officers were Colonels Edward Dillon and J.L. McCarty, Lieutenant Colonel James Gordon, and Majors J.L. Harris and John J. Perry.](https://www.tias.com/stores/war/thumbs/cl548a.jpg)
![<b>Hero of the War of 1812 and the Mexican War
General-in-Chief of the United States Army
Autograph Letter Signed
Written to the prominent lawyer and civil servant, Samuel L. Gouverneur concerning the presidency of "Old Hickory," Andrew Jackson!</b>
(1786-1866) A year older than the Constitution, the venerable Winfield Scott, hero of the War of 1812 and the Mexican War, became General in chief of the U.S. Army in 1841, a position he still held at the start of the Civil War. A true professional soldier, he was one of the very few men in the country who saw the need to prepare for a major military effort as the impending Civil War grew ever closer. His "Anacondona Plan" proved to be very sound and helped to defeat the Confederacy. Succeeded by General George B. McClellan in November 1861, he retired to write his memoirs, and died at West Point in 1866 where he is buried. A Virginian, he was the only non-West Pointer of Southern origin in the Regular Army to remain loyal to the Union. His service as the Commanding General of the United States Army for twenty years was the longest that any officer ever held that position.
<u>Autograph Letter Signed</u>: 7 3/4 x 9 3/4, in ink. This is the post script of a folded letter written by Winfield Scott to the prominent lawyer and civil servant, Samuel L. Gouverneur, who was both the nephew, and son-in-law of U.S. President James Monroe. The content is excellent and this post script stands on its own merits as it is both signed and dated by Winfield Scott. Known as a folded letter, this letter sheet was used not only to write the letter on, but it was then folded using a blank panel on the reverse side to address it as an envelope would be. It is entirely addressed in the hand of Winfield Scott: "To Samuel L. Gouverneur, Esqr., Post Master, New York," and it has been free franked, stamped in red, "FREE."
P.S. The debate on the deposit question was this morning postponed till tomorrow, some five sets of resolutions on the subject having been yesterday referred to a Commissioner & a report made thereon this morning, it became necessary to print the new resolutions. Rely upon it, the removal of the deposits will be strongly condemned by an immense majority. This condemnation, I think cannot [but help] to break the administration phalanx in the U.S.H. of Representatives & induce some thirty or forty Jackson** men to vote for a restoration. Rely also upon the appearance that the President will not dare to veto the Resolution if it passes the two Houses of Congress.
Yrs. truly,
Winfield Scott
Jan. 14, 1834
**General Winfield Scott is referring to President Andrew Jackson, who was serving as the 7th President of the United States when this event happened.
The letter is in very good condition with light age toning and wear and some paper loss at the upper left corner which does not affect any of the content. There is another area of paper loss at the left edge which does cause the loss of 2 words, and there are remnants of the original red wax seal at the right edge which does not affect any of the content. Very desirable.
The recipient of this letter, Samuel L. Gouverneur, was a prominent attorney, civil servant, and both the nephew and son-in-law of the 5th President of the United States James Monroe. Born in 1799 in New York City, his mother was the sister of President Monroe's wife. After his graduation from Columbia in 1817, he served as the private secretary of his uncle President James Monroe. Gouverneur married President Monroe's daughter (his first cousin), Maria Hester Monroe, on March 9, 1820, and it was the first wedding ever held in the White House for a child of a President of the United States. General Thomas Jesup served as groomsman at the wedding. Gouverneur was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1825, and he served as Postmaster of New York City from 1828 to 1836. He helped former president Monroe press his claims to the U.S. Congress to repay mounting debts, and after Monroe's wife's death in 1830, the former president lived with his nephew/son-in-law until his own death in 1831. Gouverneur was executor of Monroe's estate, which had to be sold off to pay the debts. Monroe was buried in the Gouverneur family vault at the New York City Marble Cemetery, until descendants had the remains moved to the James Monroe Tomb in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia. Monroe's personal papers were left to Gouverneur, who started work on publishing them, but the project was never finished. The Gouverneur's later moved to Washington, D.C., where he worked in the consular bureau of the U.S. Department of State from 1844 to 1849. After congress agreed to buy the papers of President Monroe, Gouverneur proposed a similar arrangement, which was finally concluded in 1850. After his wife Maria died in 1850, he married Mary D. Lee, granddaughter of Thomas S. Lee, and they retired to the Lee estate called "Needwood," near Frederick, Maryland. The family relations reached a breaking point during the Civil War, as Gouverneur supported President Lincoln and the Federal Government, while his in-laws were deeply rooted in the Confederacy. Samuel L. Gouverneur died on September 29, 1865, living long enough to see the Federal victory, and peace restored to the Union that his uncle President James Monroe helped to create as one of the "Founding Fathers."](https://www.tias.com/stores/war/thumbs/auto4922a.jpg)
![<b>Written by Major Clark S. Edwards, future Colonel of the regiment
He commanded the 5th Maine Infantry during the battle of Gettysburg!
Promoted to Brevet Brigadier General for gallant conduct during the Civil War!
1862 eight page letter with original cover signed twice by Major Edwards with excellent content defending the Army of the Potomac and citing some of their recent battles!
"we had one hundred & fifty thousand men, the finest army the world ever saw, but where is it now. The remnants are here, but the largest half is gone, their bones are now whitening in every county, town and village on the Peninsula, and thousands of them are left at So. Mt., Crampton Pass, and Antietam."</b>
(1824-1903) Edwards was 37 years old when the news of the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter reached the small town of Bethel, Maine. He was high on a ladder shingling his roof and he immediately climbed down, obtained permission from the appropriate authorities to form a company of volunteers, and set out to gather recruits from Bethel and the surrounding towns. This group of men became Company I, of the 5th Maine Volunteer Infantry, with Edwards commissioned as their captain on June 24, 1861. He rose through the ranks and was appointed colonel of the regiment, on January 8, 1863, commanding the 5th Maine Infantry from that date forward. He was promoted to brevet brigadier general, on March 13, 1865, for his gallant and meritorious Civil War service record.
The 5th Regiment Maine Volunteer Infantry was one of the first Maine regiments to be mustered into the Union Army. They fought in many battles from 1st Bull Run to Petersburg. During the battle of Rappahannock Station the regiment is credited with capturing 4 Confederate battleflags and 1,200 prisoners. Known as one of Maine's best fighting regiments, it captured more prisoners than the entire number of men who served in the regiment, and three times the number of battle flags than any other Maine regiment. After three long years of hard fought service only 193 men were mustered out of the regiment when their term of service expired. Among their battle honors are written the names of 1st Bull Run, Gaines' Mill, 2nd Bull Run, Crampton's Gap, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Rappahannock Station, Rapidan Crossing, Mine Run, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor and Petersburg.
8 pages, 5 x 8, in ink, written by Major Clark S. Edwards, to his wife. Comes with the original envelope which has been signed twice by Edwards, once with rank. Addressed in the hand of Major Edwards to his wife, "Mrs. C.S. Edwards, Bethel, Maine." Edwards has franked the envelope at the upper right corner, "Soldiers Letter, C.S. Edwards, Maj. 5th Me. Vo[l]." Manuscript "due" is written below his signature for postage due on the letter. Docketed at the upper left edge as the letter was in route to Maine, "Keedysville, Md., Oct. 31st." The docket at the left edge of the envelope, "Oct. 30th/62" was written by Mrs. Edwards. It was her habit to write the dates on the envelopes that her husband's letters were written on. This made it easier for her if she was looking for a letter from a certain date or time period.
<b><u>Thursday Afternoon, Near Bakersville, Md., Oct. 30, 1862</b></u>
We are still on the old camp, but left it yesterday and went on picket at dawn [at] No. 4, but was relieved in the night by one of the Mass. Regts. and got into camp about midnight and I found a letter from you dated Oct. 21st, so you see it takes a full week for a letter to reach us. Our mail matters is very bad or irregular of late. I am very glad to hear the little ones are better. I am glad you have become reconciled to my staying a time longer or at least are willing. I should do what I thought for the best. I am sorry to hear you are breaking down or getting worn out. The little boys are old enough to do considerable in the way of chores. I am sorry to hear of Dr. Luce’s troubles, but it’s different from what it would have been if he had been killed in battle and left on here with our unknown as thousands are. In regard to his good wishes towards me I am thankful of them, but in regard to my next promotion I know nothing about it or no more than you do and I presume not as much. I am glad to hear that Mary is getting along well. What is her opinion about having babies now, not so very bad after all. Tell her she has got her hand in and she must keep it up. You think I judged wrong in regard to the Bethel folks feeling bad because no more is killed. I did not mean Bethel in particular, all the North. <b>We of the Potomac Army are now called the stand still army by these Northern croakers. Is it not enough to raise the indignation of any people after going through what we have since the first of Apl. [April] last, than we had one hundred & fifty thousand men, the finest army the world ever saw, but where is it now. The remnants are here, but the largest half is gone, their bones are now whitening in every county, town and village on the [Virginia] Peninsula and thousands of them are left at So.[South] Mt. [Mountain], Crampton Pass, and Antietam, more than sixty thousand are left. We have marched and countermarched for thousands of miles and fought the greatest battles this country ever have, and still because the great object is not obtained, that is the taking of Richmond, why the Potomac Army has done nothing in the mind of those that is all the time finding fault. If Richmond had been taken in the first part of the season what then, why their army that has been opposing us would have been somewhere else to fight us where there would have been as much or more at stake. The Rebels loss in Va. & Md. the past season cannot amount to less than one hundred & twenty thousand. If Richmond was in our possession, what then? Why that is one place out of ten thousand. We hold more now than we can take care of. A large part of Tenn. & Kentucky we have lost within the past year, but I will say no more on the subject as I may say too much.</b> In regard to the New York ladies I think they will not compare with the Maine women. I would not fear to have you come here and if we go into camp near the R.R. I will send for you.
Thursday Evening
As I have a few leisure moments I will close this. It is now seven o’clock and I am in my tent alone as the Dr. is out. We have orders to move in the morning at five o’clock, but I cannot tell you anything about where we go, but by the order about our baggage we are going on one of our long marches again, perhaps before this reaches you we will see more fighting, but the sooner it comes the sooner [its] over. Our camp is all alive as the boys are fixing up to leave at an early hour, but we little know what we are going into. I think we shall go into winter quarters within two or three weeks if the fall’s rains come on as early as usual, then as I have always write you. I will try to go home. I think you must be glad that I did not go at the time I first talked of. If I had gone then I should not been in the two last fights and you know it is an honor to anyone to be in a fight. You can see that by the way the 7th [Maine Infantry] was received in Portland. We are in a beautiful camp here and I do not like the idea of moving, but we go as we are bid to go. Our camp is in a beautiful grove and just outside the army tents is the grave of some poor soldier. I did not notice it till after I put up my [tent] and as it was hardly finished I had it fixed up and a stone put at the head & foot. It is within twenty feet of my [?]. I do not know the history of the poor fellow but as [the] Fourth Division was in camp on this ground I presumed it was one of them, perhaps one of that immortal 7th. We think but little of camping down with the dead. I find its any different from what I expected that is in myself in regard to these things, but after a man has been in the army a year & a half he can do most anything. I must close this soon as I have got some packing up to do so to leave early. I wish it was towards Maine and the whole Regt. was to go, but I do not know when that will be. I will write you again as soon as we get to a place so I can. I do not know how I will get along tomorrow as Mc [Mac] is lame and Findley, about every horse in the Regt. is at this time. It is a sort of a disease among the horses, something like the scratches only a good deal worse. You may say to [?] that I think they can have the sutlership of the Regt. I will write them as soon as I get time. I know they can make more money out of it, but it wants two to carry it on, one to buy & haul in, the other to sell. If they think of coming it must be done soon as we shall have a sutler as soon as we go into winter quarters. My love to all the little ones and regards to all.
Clark
Very fine 8 page letter. Excellent content with references to the recently fought battles that the Army of the Potomac and the 5th Maine Infantry had participated in, and much more interesting news! Comes with the original cover bearing 2 signatures of Major Clark S. Edwards, one with rank. The cover shows edge wear from when it was originally opened and some edge chipping.](https://www.tias.com/stores/war/thumbs/ul2026a.jpg)
![<b>Commander of the famed "Sussex Light Dragoons" of Virginia</b>
7 1/4 x 9 3/4, in ink, written to Captain Belsches on imprinted letter sheet, and signed by Washington Lafayette Riddick, who was the Assistant Adjutant General of General Albert G. Blanchard at this time.
Head Quarters Military Division. The words "Military Division" have been crossed out with slanted pen strokes, and written in above is "3d Brigade." The imprint continues Portsmouth, Va., with the month and day written in ink, "Sept. 16th" and the year 1861 imprinted on the letter sheet.
The content of the letter is as follows:
Capt. B.W. Belsches
Sussex Cavalry
Sir:
In answer to your communication of this date, asking extension of leave of absence on account of your health, I am directed to say that the request is granted, and until such time as the condition of your health will prevent you to return to active duty.
You will however make weekly reports of your condition to these Head Quarters, accompanied by the certificate of your attending physician.
Respty. Yr. Obt. Sevt.
W.L. Riddick
A. Adjt. Genl.
Sent by mail to Waverly Station [Virginia]
Light staining along the left edge of the paper, and some minor overall wear. Bold and neatly written. Very desirable and scarce document regarding the elite "Sussex Light Dragoons" of Virginia, and its commander Captain Benjamin W. Belsches.
WBTS Trivia: During The War Between the States, Sussex Country, Virginia was the site of much military activity. The "Sussex Light Dragoons" adopted their name from an American Revolutionary War unit that also hailed from Sussex County, Virginia. The "Sussex Light Dragoons" were known as a wealthy organization and it is said that each member of the company had his own servant with him.
The "Sussex Light Dragoons" wore a most distinctive uniform, their kepi being of such a height as to almost qualify it as a "shako," made of blue cloth with yellow braid, it bore a brass badge of the letters "S.L.D." over crossed sabres. Officers wore a variation of the regulation frock coat, but considerably longer than usual. Other ranks wore shirts with "plastron" style front panels, which may have been reversible to show a yellow panel for full dress. They were also known as bib-fronted battle shirts. Trousers for all ranks were dark blue. They were armed with the usual weapons of the sabre and revolver. [Source: Mine Creek Battlefield; American Uniforms].
Benjamin W. Belsches, was 43 years old when he enlisted on April 24, 1861, at Waverly, Virginia, as a captain. He was the commander of the famed "Sussex Light Dragoons." He also had service in Co. C, 5th Virginia Cavalry, and either the 13th Virginia Cavalry [see page 364 of Units of the Confederate States Army] or 15th Virginia Cavalry [see The Historical Data Systems, Inc.]. He was promoted to major on June 26, 1862. His date and method of discharge are unknown. He did however survive the war and died on October 13, 1872, and is buried in the Family Cemetery, in Sussex County, Virginia.
Washington Lafayette Riddick, was a 36 year old resident of Suffolk, Va., when he enlisted on June 24, 1861, at Suffolk, as a 2nd lieutenant, and was commissioned into Co. G, 5th Virginia Cavalry. On August 15, 1861, he was commissioned as a Confederate States Staff Officer, and assigned to the headquarters staff of General Albert G. Blanchard, as 1st lieutenant and adjutant. He was promoted to the rank of captain in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States of America, on October 5, 1861. He was wounded on June 1, 1862, at the battle of Seven Pines, Va.; he was assigned to Camp Lee, Richmond, Va., as Captain and Assistant Adjutant General, on August 15, 1863; assigned to the staff of General James L. Kemper as Assistant Adjutant General, on January 15, 1865; assigned to R.H. Anderson's Artillery, as Assistant Adjutant General, on January 28, 1865; and was paroled on May 2, 1865, at Richmond, Va. He died on February 3, 1871, in New Orleans, Louisiana.](https://www.tias.com/stores/war/thumbs/cd678a.jpg)
