Description:

ALBION P. HOWE
(1818-1897) Union brigadier general who served at Second Bull Run, Antietam, and Fredericksburg, but was eventually deprived of division command due to poor relationships with his superior officers. ‘GEN. MCCLELLAND HAS MANAGED THE CAMPAIGN…BADLY…' Superb content, war-date A.L.S. signed twice, 5pp. 8vo., Harrisons Landing, VA, July 14, 1862, on lined letterhead to an unnamed senator regarding Howe's promotion to brigadier general and recounting the Battle of Gaines' Mill. In part: ‘…I received last month…a Commission as Brigadier General… After I saw you last in Wash I had an interview with the Secretary of War and he told me that it was his perception to reorganize the Ordnance Department and gave me to understand that he wishes me to go on it. His desire entirely suited me and I was waiting for that to be carried out when the appointment of Brigadier came…I have just learned that my appointment was made at the insistence of some of my Pennsylvania friends and that its rapid confirmation by the Senate was due to your agency…accept my thanks…I was assigned a Brigade of five Regiments soon after I received a Commission and the next day after the rebels began their attack upon us on the Chickahominy. My Brigade did not get a good chance at them until Tuesday, the last day of the fight, at Malvern Hills. The main attack at that battle was on my division and the rebels opened it on my Brigade. We fought them from 9 A.M. until 9 ½ P.M. flogging them handsomely and easily every time they advanced upon us, they made their last and best effort that day to crush us, and they admit it was the severest battle with the greatest loss on their side of any battle they had. All the acting members of my staff were disabled but one and I had my horse shot twice. The General in command that day (Gen. [Darius N.] Couch) thanked me on the field for what my Brigade had done...Had we have attacked the rebels six weeks before we allowed them the advantage of attacking us, we should beyond doubt have gone into Richmond with much less loss than we have had in defending ourselves against their attacks. In my judgement Gen. McClellan has managed the campaign since we came to Yorktown badly. His army can go to Richmond, for we have proven to the rebels that we can flog them with odds against us. I beg your pardon for writing so many lines to you when I know you have not the time to read them. My purpose was to thank you for your services and ask through you if either of your sons will accept a position on any staff…' In a cross-hatched postscript on the first page Howe writes: ‘Your views expressed in the Senate upon the policy of the War as regards Negroes are heartily responded to by all the officers and men of the Army whose loyalty is not doubted…'. Inlaid into a larger sheet and in near fine condition.

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September 10, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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