Description:

(CONFEDERATE BALLOONING) LANGDON CHEVES, JR.
(1814-1863) The son of Speaker of the House and early proponent of secession Langdon Cheves, Sr. Utilized his family wealth to procure arms and equipment for strengthening Confederate defenses in the coastal regions of South Carolina and Georgia. Using silk purportedly taken from donated ladies' dresses, he constructed the first confederate observation balloon, the ‘Gazelle', which was used throughout the Battle of Seven Pines in June, 1862. Cheves was selected by John C. Pemberton to supervise the construction of Battery Wagner on Morris Island, where he was killed by shellfire from Union monitors. Rare signature in black ink on a 9.75 x 3.25 in. section of paper cut from a hotel register, executing his surname a second time in listing the other members of his party: ‘Lady Child & Sevt., 2 Misses Cheves, Miss Parker'. Shows archival tape residue to the recto away from the signature, otherwise in very good condition.

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March 27, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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$100 $499 $20
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$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
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