Description:

(‘GREAT LOCOMOTIVE CHASE') WILLIAM J. KNIGHT
WILLIAM J. KNIGHT (1837-1916) Civil War Medal of Honor recipient. He received the award for his participation in the ‘Andrews Raid', an attempt by the Union Army to destroy railroad bridges and track between Chattanooga and Atlanta. During the raid, he was captured by Confederate soldiers and imprisoned, but managed to escape back to the Union lines. Very rare A.L.S. in pencil, 1p. 8vo., Stryker, Nov. 21, 1906, to ‘W. D. Binkley' in part: ‘…I will enclose you a small Bill that they used at Hudson, Ind, that will give you an idea of my entertainment. And hoping everything will be satisfactory…' Fine. With the original transmittal cover. Volunteers from the Union Army, led by civilian scout James J. Andrews, commandeered a train, 'The General', and took it northward toward Chattanooga doing as much damage as possible to the vital line as they went. They were pursued by Confederate forces at first on foot, and later on a succession of locomotives, including 'The Texas', for 87 miles. Because the Union men had cut the telegraph wires, the Confederates could not send warnings ahead to forces along the railway. Confederates eventually captured the raiders and quickly executed some as spies, including Andrews; some others were able to flee.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, COD (cash on delivery), Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

*SEE ADITTIONAL SHIPPING ABOVE* -Shipments are sent via FedEx and DHL (for most overseas shipments) or FedEx Ground at the auctioneer's option. Due to complications from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we will ship with USPS Priority Mail only if the buyer submits their request to us in writing and accepts responsibility for delayed shipments. Signature is always required, unless other arrangements are made. Handling and shipping charges will be added to the invoice in one entry. Buyers should be aware that large, framed, fragile or odd shaped items can incur substantial shipping and packing charges. International shipments are invoiced by DIMENSIONAL weight, not the item weight. Please contact us for an estimate before bidding NOTE: Large, heavy or bulky items may not be shipped by the auctioneer - arrangements for shipping of these items via a third-party shipper may be arranged through the auction house. Customers who supply their own courier account number will still be charged a handling fee. Please allow 2-3 weeks for shipments after receipt of payment due to the high volume of packages being shipped.

April 1, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000