WILLIAM E. "GRUMBLE" JONES (1824 - 1864) Confederate brigadier general who fought with Stuart at Gettysburg, with Longstreet in Tennessee; killed at Piedmont. A good pre-war A. Ms. (unsigned), 2pp. 4to., Washington City, Dec. [1860], to the editor of an unknown paper in the wake of Lincoln's election as President urging armed rebellion, in small part: "...To longer persuade ourselves that any thing human can avert the impending revolution is to shut our eyes to reason. The triumphant North is defiant in its threatened wrongs and persistent in refusal of any amends for past injury. Slanders, taunts, and insults have at last done their work. The chains are forged for the South and the scoffing infidels in the Federal City boast of their readiness to close the eternal river. The iron is in the fire and the brand of inferiority awaits us at once unless we evince the spirit of our ancestry. In tones of thunder a voice is heard throughout our land, the south is ready for her fate but it is death rather than dishonor... With the old and the young drills and rifle practice should be the order of the day for we may have to meet the enemy abroad and at home...Organize companies to secure combined action and practice with arms to make it effective. Let the rich give their means and all their time and in a few months the devil in the shape of an abolitionist might well be defied... ". The verso of the second page bears pencil notes in Jones's hand on rifle technology. Light folds, else fine condition. $400-600