Description:

CONFEDERATE GENERALS PRESTON SMITH, LEONIDAS POLK, BENJAMIN CHEATHAM AND ALFRED VAUGHAN, JR.
Rare, extremely fine association group of war-date signed endorsements on the verso of a letter written Aug. 18, 1863 by a captain to Col. (later Brig. Gen.) ALFRED J. VAUGHAN, JR. (1830-1899), requesting that a private be returned to his company after being detached. Vaughan signs in black ink on the verso, duly forwarding the request up the chain of command: first to PRESTON SMITH (1823-1863), Confederate brigadier general killed at Chickamauga when he rode into Union lines during a night engagement, who adds his full signature in black ink below Vaughan's endorsement; then to the division commander, BENJAMIN F. CHEATHAM (1820 – 1886), Confederate major general with the Army of Tennessee who saw action from Shiloh to Atlanta, who signs ‘B. F. Cheatham' in black ink; then on to corps commander LEONIDAS POLK (1806-1864), Confederate lieutenant general who was a bishop of Louisiana before the war, led with distinction at Belmont and Shiloh, and would be killed by cannon fire at Kennesaw Mountain, who approves the request and signs ‘L. Polk' in black ink. The matter is finally referred to the private's immediate superior by the command of General Braxton Bragg, with the endorsement signed by Col. KINLOCH FALCONER (1838-1878), who would later become the 24th Mississippi Secretary of State. An emendation made by Falconer in his endorsement shows heavy ink erosion, affecting the signature of the captain who submitted the original request on the recto, as well a some of the text. Also shows original mailing folds, with one completely separated but lightly repaired, with additional small folds and chips to the edges, still in very good, readily legible condition overall. Altogether an excellent document bearing the signatures of no less than four Confederate generals, two of whom would fall in combat before war's end.

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November 14, 2025 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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