Description:

GEORGE G. MEADE
(1815 - 1872) Union major general who commanded brilliantly at Gettysburg, leading to a Union victory and the turning point of the Civil War. Lengthy pre-war A.L.S. 'Geo. G. Meade', 4pp. 4to., Philadelphia, Nov. 26, 1853, to his brother-in-law and future Virginia governor, Henry A. Wise. In small part: '…Your kind letter of the 22nd inst was received…Having but just returned from Lake Champlain, where I had been to inspect a boat, the duty of preparing my report has completely absorbed my time…I wrote to you about the 10th inst…I enclosed…one from Col. Abert to me (private) asking me to obtain your good offices with the Presd…his son Wm Sketch Abert appointed one of the Cadets at large to West Point…my position in relation to it left me no alternative but compliance with his request, that young Abert was I know a most worthy young man and that as a son of an Army officer, he was of the class intended to be selected from…at the same time I had written the disposition to tax your influence per 3rd parties; but that a compliance with the Colonel's wishes might…produce a change in this views in reference to my duties, a result greatly desired on my part. I hope you have seen Jenkins. I wanted his action and yours to be simultaneous, that is to say, if he could write an application for my services to the Secretary of the Treasury…your influence with [Jefferson] Davis could procure its being granted by the War Department…I have made examinations and am now making reports for certain works on the Coast of Fl. I desire to be detailed for the construction of these works, so as to be permitted to carry out my own plans…The law requires these works to be constructed by an Officer of Engineers of the Army, which I am. One of these works, the L. H. on Coffin's Patches the apprvl for which was made prior to the organization of the L. H Board, the law requires its construction under the Bureau of Topographical Engineers, whose agent I am…Thence the law makes these duties proper and legitimate to an officer of my corps…The L. H. Board acknowledges this, and is desirous of retaining me, but Col. Abert objects on the grounds that works are not under his charge, and that the Board has officers enough already…I am quite sure Colonel Davis will do all in his power…He however naturally feels a delicacy and an indisposition to interfere between the Col. and his disposition of his subordinates, and it is not in my power to prove to him…I thank you for your kind feeling toward me & offers of service…'. Meade ends with family news. Colonel JOHN J. ABERT (1788-1863) headed the Topographical Engineers for 32 years, during which he mapped out the American West. During this time, he recruited the best scientist-soldiers, many of whom became Civil War legends such as John C. Fremont and William H. Emory. Following an early career as a civil engineer, Meade re-entered the army in 1842, thence serving in the Mexican-American war, and brevetted for his bravery in the Battle of Monterrey. After the war, he worked in breakwater construction and coastal surveying in Florida. Very good condition, with full transcription and worthy of further research.

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January 26, 2023 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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