Winter 2013 Auction Part II
by Alexander Historical Auctions | Alexander Autographs
423 lots with images
January 31, 2013
Live Auction860 Canal St.
2nd Floor
Stamford, CT, 06902 USA
Phone: 203.276.1570
Fax: 203 504 6290
Email: sales@alexautographs.com
Lot 419: CONFEDERATE SURGEON'S KEPI
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Description: CONFEDERATE SURGEON'S KEPI An excessively rare piece of Confederate headgear, the surgeon's kepi once belonging to Lt. James W. Claiborne of the 12th Virginia and one of only perhaps six surgeon's kepis known to exist in public or private hands. The dark blue/black kepi bears a round top with 4 1/2" diameter, and is 2 1/2" tall at front, 6" tall at rear. It bears a double band of gold braid 1/16" wide encircling the lower part of the cap, with a 1/8" single gold braid strand and front and back seams and a single quatrefoil in 1/8" gold braid on the crown. A 1/2" gold braid chinstrap is present, terminating at the end of the visor, and is affixed with tin-backed buttons with single star motif. The kepi is lined with brown silesia (twill cotton), and the sides are lines with a cotton print of stylized flowers on a zigzag repeating backgroung. The lining is merely set into the cap. The 1" oilcloth sweatband is painted black. The 2 1/8" deep visor is made of black leather lined with green leather or paper in a pressed pattern of striated leather, with black leather edging. The visor, stitched to the cap, is very slightly loose on the right side, and there are six or seven tiny moth nips in the body of the cap. The visor bears surface cracking and one nominal crease but overall this kepi is in much better condition than is usually found. Claiborne enlisted with the 12th Virginia Infy. at Petersburg, Va. as a private sometime prior to April 30, 1861 and remained with that regiment until he was paroled at Appomattox at war's end. He was quickly appointed Assistant Surgeon, effective Sep. 14, 1861, thus immediately elevating in rank him from private to lieutenant. The provenance and authenticity of this item is impeccable. Present is a copy of a letter from recognized uniform expert Les Jensen to dealer Will Gorges carefully describing the kepi and mentioning its connection to Claiborne. Jensen notes: "This is a very good example of an original Confedertae surgeon's kepi. There appears to be no restoration...the lining is identical to the material used in the sleeve lining of a coat that belonged to Colonel William McComb of the 14th Tennessee Infantry. Given that Surgeon Claiborne was from Petersburg, and that Colonel McComb was in the vicinity of Petersburg from the summer of 1864 until nearly the end of the war, it seems likely that this kepi is the product of either a Petersburg tailor, or one operating in central Virginia...less than half a dozen are known to exist. This is a highly important cap...". Also present are two original 1997 letters of provenance signed by Jerry Wright which also describe the kepi. They note: "...[it] came from a home in Petersburg, Virginia, around 1959-61 and was the former property of James W. Claiborne, Company E, 12th Virginia Infantry...The hat has resided in the same major collection in the Petersburg, Virginia vicinity until I obtained the item in May, 1997, and has never been offered for public or private sale to anyone since its initial release from a Claiborne family member...". The 12th Virginia fought at at Oak Grove, Second Manassas, in the Maryland Campaign, at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg, and surrendered at Appomattox. Sold with Claiborne's partial service record, letters of provenance, Jensen analysis, Will Gorges catalog offering, and other supporting material.
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Lot 420: JAMES E. B. STUART
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Description: JAMES E. B. STUART (1833 - 1864) Confederate major general of cavalry who circled McClellan's army twice, was late to the battle of Gettysburg, and in 1864 was mortally wounded at Yellow Tavern. Rare, good content war-date A.L.S. "Stuart" with postcript initialed "J.E.B." on "Head Quarters Cavalry Corps, Army of Northern Virginia" letterhead, Dec. 31, 1863, 2+pp. 4to., [n.p.], to an unnamed colonel. In part: "...Our friends [Frank] Vizatelly [British war correspondent and illustrator who came to the US in 1861 and covered the Civil War from the Confederate viewpoint] and Capt. Ross left us this morning and will be with you before this reaches you. I was very sorry Lawley [British newspaperman Francis Lawley?] did not come up. I hope however to go down on 3 or 4 days leave...to Ricmond to attend the nuptuals of my brother in law Gen'l [John R.] Cooke. I hope to see you then. I am very much gratified at your exertions in behalf of the Cavalry, the army, and the country. I would dislike very much to lose you for foreign missions or anything else during this war....Your being superceded so soon in Congress must be regarded as a public calamity...I was glad the House had the manliness and patriotism to put the bill putting in all men who claim exemption by reason of having furnished a substitute. It should be quickly followed up by the enrolling officers - so as to get our army full by spring. ..Why don't the mil. committee hurry up a report about the cav'y measures proposed - I have another scheme - to establish under command of a disabled Col. or other Field Officer - a camp of artisans...with shops, tools and materials...for all of the prisoners of war who renounce their allegiance to the enemy & take the oath to the Confed. States. Also all the deserters from the enemy to us. This class is rapidly growing...The camp should be subject to mil. discipline, the operatives to be paid for their works. Under such a man as Col. R. E. Withers it would flourish and be very profitable to the gov't. The Sec. of War has the authority to do it...These Yankees in two days in the woods would be as comfortable as I am at this moment. I am uneasy about their presence in Richmond...". In his initialed postscript (detached from the letter), Stuart adds: "Poor Sweeny the banjoist is no more. He died of the small pox during my absence. His loss is very generally felt throughout our military circle...Hurry up legislation for the cavalry & the army...". Fine condition. Contrary to Stuart's hopes, the C.S.A. never adopted his plans, though at Belle Isle and to a lesser extent in some other camps, prisoners were employed in iron works, and in constructing battlements and additions to camps.
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Lot 421: EDWARD JOHNSON
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Description: EDWARD JOHNSON (1816 - 1873) Confederate major general who served with distinction in the Valley Campaign of 1862. Johnson led Stonewall Jackson's old division at Gettysburg, the Wilderness, and Spotsylvania where he was captured while defending the "Bloody Angle". After his release, he was captured yet again at Nashville and imprisoned at Fort Warren in Boston for the duration of the war. Fine content A.L.S. "Edw. Johnson Maj. Gl. CSA" written from captivity at Fort Warren, 3pp. 4to., Apr. 17, 1865. Two days after the death of Abraham Lincoln, Johnson writes from Casemate #5 in the bleak prison to his cousin, Emily Barton Brune in Baltimore, lamenting the death of the president. In part: "...recent events that have transpired in Va. and in Wash'n must have affected you as they have done us...heartfelt gratitude for your sympathy and your kindness in my misfortune...yr father, mother & sister who have been surrounded by such awful & trying events...I room in what is called a casemate in military parlance, a sort of subterranean abode, built of very solid masonry, but not shut out from the light of sun...I no doubt occupy the apartments formerly occupied by your friends [Baltimore Mayor George W. Brown, among others]...exercise at all hours of the day...we have been shocked by the terrible tragedy recently perpetrated in Wash'n, and all of us deeply and sincerely deplore it. Nothing at this time could have been more unfortunate for our unhappy country. All honorable men must feel as we do about this assassination. It must have [?] in the brain of the perpetrator. I feel confident that he had no aid or sympathy from honorable men of the South. They are not assassins and not the allies of assassins...". Johnson closes with warm sentiments and expressions of thankfulness to his much beloved cousin. Censor's signature at upper-left, folds, else near fine. With transmittal envelope, near fine.
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Lot 422: JAMES LONGSTREET
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Description: JAMES LONGSTREET (1821 - 1904) Confederate major general who commanded Lee's right wing at Antietam, and the left flank at Chickamauga. Longstreet has been accused of delaying his attack at Gettysburg, leading to the Confederate defeat there. Excessively rare fine content and association war date A.L.S. "J. Longstreet", 4pp. 8vo., "Camp near Winchester", Oct. 5, 1862 to fellow Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. Just four days before his promotion to Lieutenant General, Longstreet corresponds with his old friend who had been wounded at the Battle of Seven Pines in early June. In part: "…I was much gratified at having a letter from you, and particularly so at receiving the photograph. It has revived a good deal of the old enthusiasm that your old Army has always had at the sight or thought of you. Although they have fought many battles and successfully under another leader [Robert E. Lee], I feel that you have their hearts more decidedly than any other leader can ever have. The men would now go wild at the sight of their old favorite. I can't become reconciled at the idea of your going west. I command the 1st Corps in this Army. If you will take it you are more than welcome to it, and I have no doubt but the command of the entire Army will fall to you before Spring. I am now thirty thousand strong and increasing very fast daily. It would do my heart a great deal of good to have one good talk with you, can't always write what we would like to say…we are trying to shoe & clothe our men and scratch out the wrinkles from their stomachs caused by their short rations…we are now beginning to feel like game cocks again, and some begin to wish for the chance to convince the Yankees that Sharpsburg is but a trifle to what they can do…If it is possible for me to relieve you by going west don't hesitate to send me…" Slight toning, with paper thinning partially affecting one letter in signature, else very good. A most telling letter, obviously showing Longstreet's great admiration for Johnston, but more tellingly it hints at Longstreet's dissatisfaction with his new commanding officer, Robert E. Lee. The rest is history: Johnston was indeed sent to command the Department of the West, and Longstreet's tenuous relationship with Lee would cause him to be blamed by many for the debacle at Gettysburg.
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Lot 423: UNION CAPTAIN OF RIFLES FROCK COAT
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Description: UNION CAPTAIN OF RIFLES FROCK COAT An excessively rare U.S. Captain of Rifles frock coat, one of only a tiny handful known to be in public or private hands. This dark blue single breasted broadcloth coat is very tightly woven and is composed of two front, two side, and two back panels with a center seam. The standing two-piece collar is of the same material as the coat, and stands 1 1/2" at front and rear, 1 3/4" at its tallest point. An iron hook and eye are present at the base of the collar. The two-piece sleeves measure 8 3/4" across at the elbow and 4 1/2" at the cuff, which is turned underneath and stitched. The functional cuff buttons with two 15mm. U.S. Rifle Officer's buttons backmarked "SUPERIOR QUALITY", with a third (surprisingly) non-functional button affixed furthest from the cuff. Each shoulder bears a Smith's patent captain's shoulder strap, the edge and devices made of stamped brass. The background is a light green cloth, more so obvious under the metal edge. Each strap is 4" x 1 1/2", with edging piece 3/8" wide. The straps are attached to a dark blue or black wool backing and sewn to the coat. The coat bears a center vent and a pair of side folds with pocket flaps on either side. There are four 22mm. Rifle Officer's buttons on the back, two at the hips, and one each at the end of each pocket flap, all backmarked "STEEL & JOHNSON". The coat is lined in a brown/green material, perhaps fine cotton, with a ribbed padded breast and shoulders. The coat measures 16 1/2" from the bottom of the collar to the waist seam at font; 19 1/2" in back; the skirt is 17 1/2" long in front and 18 1/4" in the rear. The sleeve front seam is 20" long, back seam 24 1/2". According to analysis provided, signed by expert Les Jensen: "...This coat conforms to U.S. Army regulations of 1851 and 1861 for a Captain of Rifles...[it is] clearly from the period of the Civil War. There were a limited number of units designated ar Rifles during the war...Based on thirty years of observation and study...it is my considered opinion that this is an original U.S. officer's frock coat for a Captain of Riflemen, dating from the period of the Civil War. It is a fine survival of a rare type of officer's coat. Congratulations on a very fine acquisition...". A few very tiny and widely scattered miniscule moth nips mentioned only for accuracy, else fine condition. A fine opportunity to acquire an excessively rare frock coat.
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