Beschreibung:

Head-Quarters Army N. VA … To the People of Marland [sic].
Near Frederick Town” [MD]: 8 September 1862. Small broadside or handbill, on ruled paper (150 x 188 mm). Signed in print by R. E. Lee. Condition : minor browning, nicely repaired tears. the rare first issue of a scarce handbill issued by lee during the maryland campaign of 1862 . The text reads: “It is right that you should know the purpose that has brought the army under my command within the limits of your State, so far as that purpose concerns yourselves. The people of the Confederate States have long watched with the deepest sympathy the wrongs and outrages that have been inflicted upon the citizens of a Commonwealth allied to the States of the South by the strongest social, political, and commercial ties. They have seen, with profound indignation, their sister State deprived of every right, and reduced to the condition of a conquered province. Under the pretence of supporting the Constitution, but in violation of its most valuable provisions, your citizens have been arrested and imprisoned upon no charge, and contrary to all forms of law … Believing that the people of Maryland possessed a spirit too lofty to submit to such a government, the people of the South have long wished to aid you in throwing off this foreign yoke, to enable you again to enjoy the inalienable rights of freemen, and restore independence and sovereignty to your State. In obedience to this wish, our army has come among you, and is prepared to assist you, with the power of its arms, in regaining the rights of which you have been despoiled. This, citizens of Maryland, is our mission, so far as you are concerned. No constraint upon your free will is intended - no intimidation will be allowed … It is for you to decide your destiny, freely, and without constraint. This army will respect your choice, whatever it may be; and, while the Southern people will rejoice to welcome you to your natural position among them, they will only welcome you when you come of your own free will.” Lee’s broadside letter announced the intention of the Confederate forces to free the people of Maryland from Union rule and was issued in the hopes of retaining new recruits. This printed handbill is a significant rarity and is present here in its first state with the misspelling of Maryland (“Marland”) in the heading. When the misspelling was detected, the type was reset and the handbill reprinted. It is assumed that few copies printed with the mistake were given to officers for use as writing paper. See the following lot for a letter by Stonewall Jackson written on verso of a copy of the handbill. Only one institutional copy of the first issue of the handbill is known (Virginia Historical Society). Parrish & Willingham 1236.