Beschreibung:

LONGSTREET, JAMES ("Pete"), Lt. General, C.S.A. Autograph letter signed ("J Longstreet Lt. Gen.") TO GENERAL THOMAS CARMICHAEL HINDMAN, Headquarters, 20 September [l863]. 2 pages, 12mo, in pencil on pale grey lined foolscap paper, two chips in blank edges, a bit browned. "LEE'S WAR-HORSE" IN COMMAND AT AT CHICKAMAUGA A fine battlefield letter of "Old Pete" to a divisional commander, most likely written late in the second day of one of his most important battles, Chickamauga. Longstreet and his First Corps had been sent to bolster Braxton Bragg's forces at the eleventh hour; they arrived at Chickamauga on the night of the first day's battle (September l9). "The next morning, Longstreet demonstrated his offensive mettle with the best Confederate 'break-through' of the war" (James I. Robertson, in his introduction to Longstreet, From Manassas to Appomattox, l960, p.xvii). The Confederate success that day probably explains the usually taciturn Longstreet's tone of optimism and good humor. "General, Your note is recd. You and your troops have done admirably to-day. Give them every encouragement and collect them as quick as you can. I have sent to General Bragg to ask him to send a Divn. to take your place when it reaches you you can retire to the road and prepare to renew the battle to-morrow. Take great care of your brave men...." While Hindman's division was nominally under command of General Leonidas Polk, who commanded the center of the rebel lines at Chickamauga, the detailed battle map in Longstreet's memoirs (op.cit, between pp. 446-447), shows that Hindman's forces were aligned on the left wing, commanded by Longstreet. Sadly, Bragg did not follow up the good fortune occasioned by Longstreet's penetration of the Union line; afterwards, the disputatious Bragg relieved Polk, D.H. Hill and Hindman for unsatisfactory performance; unjustly, to judge from Longstreet's praise in the present letter. Provenance : a note on an accompanying envelope records: "Kept and preserved by Maj. John C. Palmer staff officer of General Hindman...Now the property of Maj. Palmer's Grandson, A.J. Gannon...."; thence by descent to the present owner.