Description:

(1836 - 1881) Union major general called 'Kill Cavalry' by his men, he fought at Gettysburg, and led several raids on Richmond and Jonesboro. Kilpatrick also had the dubious honor of being the first officer to be wounded in Civil War combat. A SCATHING ACCUSATION OF COWARDICE ENDORSED BY KILPATRICK, STONEMAN AND GREGG Superb content, war date E.S. on the verso of a letter written by Union major, later brevet general, Mathew H. Avery. The letter is 2pp., 4to., 'Camp Bayard', February 28, 1863, to Union general and adjutant of the State of New York John T. Sprague (1810-1878) stating concerns about the commander of his regiment the 10th New York Cavalry. In part: '...I would respectfully state that Col. John C. Lemmon of this regiment has not been in command of the same since Oct. 28, 1862...he has never been present with it in any engagement, march, or scout except on one occasion...he took refuge in our ambulance from which he only emerged when the regt. had returned within our own territory...for three weeks last [he] has been in Washington, with no probability of his immediate return, for the last six weeks I have been in command...Col. L[emmon], whether in or out of command or hundred miles from his regiment habitually signs his name as 'Col. Comdg.'...his recommendations are awarded without regard to the fitness of individuals or the interests of the service...I would respectfully state that in my judgement an officer absent from his command who never has seen his men under fire is unfit to distinguish between meritorious and undeserving men...' Kilpatrick signs an endorsement as cavalry commander on the verso which reads in part: '...from an inspection a day since, I find that in discipline and soldierly appearance the 10th New York bears no comparison to the other regiments...its scarcely merits the name of a regiment...the fault is not with the Lt. Col...the fault is with Col. Lemmon...scarcely ever been in command...never but a few days in the field, is not even soldier himself...' Another endorsement is written and signed by Union Major General GEORGE STONEMAN (1822-1894) which reads in part: 'From what I know...[Col. Lemmon] is not only incompetent to command regiment but incompetent to assignate proper men to command...' A final endorsement is written and signed by brigadier general DAVID M. GREGG (1833-1916) forwarding the document. John C. Lemmon (1806-1875) was the subject of controversy most of the war and was constantly fighting or appealing claims about his integrity or command capability, partially explaining his absence from the regiment. He would write to Secretary of War Stanton or even President Lincoln to defend his actions or the cronies he had appointed as officers. In the meantime, the regiment was commanded by the author of the letter, Mathew Avery, who served with distinction until the war's end.

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April 7, 2022 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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