Description:

ARCHIBALD C. GODWIN
(1831 - 1864) Confederate brigadier general, first served as assistant provost marshal in charge of Libby Prison. He then served as colonel of the 57th North Carolina Infantry fighting at Fredericksburg on Dec. 13, 1862 and later at Chancellorsville. At Gettysburg he participating in the attack on Cemetery Hill on July 2, was captured and exchanged the next year, and then killed at the Third Battle of Winchester. A rare war date A.E.S. as Provost Marshall of Richmond, on an important letter written to Godwin by G.W. Alexander, Assistant Provost Marshall, concerning the disposition of provost guards in Richmond. The A.L.S. 1p. 4to., Richmond, May 3, 1862, reads in full: 'Captain - I was in General Winders' office about the guard that accounts for the enclosed order - my detail is: Castle Godwin, 24, Guard House Franklin St., 20, Henrico Co. Jail, 5, Va. C.R.R. Depot, 6, Patrol, 36. Total, 90. Respectfully, G.W. Alexander, A.P.M.'. At the bottom of the letter Godwin has written: 'I consider the above detail absolutely necessary for Eastern District. A.C. Godwin, Provost Marshal'. Near fine condition.

At the time, Castle Godwin, the Guard House at Franklin Street, and the Henrico County Jail were all being used as prisons. The remainder of the guards, both at the railroad depot and at large, were presumably used to maintain order within Richmond and to arrest deserters. The writer of this letter, Alexander, would be arrested after the war for alleged cruelty against prisoners, but was not convicted. Very good.

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