Description:

EDMUND KIRBY
(1840 – 1863) Union army officer who was killed during the Battle of Chancellorsville. Kirby fought at the First Battle of Bull Run, Ball's Bluff, the Peninsula Campaign and at Antietam as a battery commander of the battery. At Chancellorsville, Kirby took command of the 5th Maine Battery. He supervised the evacuation of the artillery guns, but was heavily wounded by case-shot. He later died of infection following a leg amputation. Kirby was nominated to brigadier general of volunteers by Lincoln on May 28, but was not confirmed as he died later that day at the age of 23. Extremely rare A.L.S., 3pp. 8vo., Poolesville, MD, Jan. 9, 1861. Kirby offers his younger brother advice on his college education, in part: ‘I propose that as you are already prepared for the junior course that you take up some branch of study not directly connected with your future course of study but which at the same time will be of use to you in future. You should not devote more than two or three hours a day to study and the remainder of the time devote to experience. Now as you are the only male at home you should attend to the homey matters. I propose therefore that you make it part of your business to keep the family accounts for Mother… You must decide this matter for yourself , and then we will talk about a particular college – Yale is my choice however…' He signs ‘E Kirby' at the conclusion in black ink. Shows original mailing folds, with some skips to the ink in the body, otherwise in fine condition overall.

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

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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