Lot 633

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Description:

JOHN TYLER
(1790 - 1862) Tenth President of the United States following the death of Harrison, annexed Texas, and remained loyal to Virginia following its secession. Superb content A.L.S. "John Tyler" with integral address leaf franked "J. Tyler" addressed to his grandson "Lt. James R. Tyler Provisional Army Jerusalem Southampton Cty Va.", 1p. 4to., Sherwood Forest, Va., May 18, 1861. Just over a month after the bombardment of Fort Sumter, the traitorous ex-president Tyler sends a letter to his grandson, son of John Tyler, Jr., offering him advice on how best to serve the cause of the Confederacy. In part: "... I was in Richmond on last Tuesday...[and] was informed that you had been appointed to the place in the army you had desired. Knowing the full occupation of the officials in Richmond...I have thought proper to write this. Have you received any notice of your appointment, or orders of any sort? Jerusalem I should think would be a good recruiting station. If necessary visit the City and have an interview with Col. Smith. Or what might be quite as well, address him a brief letter, asking that your commission be forwarded you, and you be put on service either as drill or recruiting officer...". Thin mounting strip attached to blank margin of address leaf, seal tear from opening, else very good. Eleven days earlier, the 22 year-old Tyler was commissioned into Co. B of the First Virginia Battalion. The unit fought in Lee's Cheat Mountain Campaign, then at First Kernstown, McDowell, and in Jackson's Valley Campaign. The unit was involved in many conflicts of the Army of Northern Virginia from the Seven Day's Battles to Fredericksburg. Later it was assigned to General Headquarters and Provost Guard. The unit surrendered 18 officers and 120 men at Appomattox, including 1st Lt. James Rochelle Tyler. After war broke out, the treasonous John Tyler unhesitatingly sided with the Confederacy and became a delegate to the Provisional Confederate Congress. He was then elected to the Confederate Congress. On January 5, 1862, he left for Richmond, Virginia, in anticipation of his congressional service, but he would not live to see the opening sessions.

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May 9, 2012 11:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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