Description:

M. JEFF THOMPSON
(1826-1876) Confederate brigadier general of the Missouri militia, commanded forces in the Trans-Mississippi theater, nicknamed the 'Swamp Fox.' Rare, great content war date L.S. as brigadier general while commanding rams in the Confederate fleet, 2pp. 4to., Ponchatoula, September 27, 1862, to fellow Confederate general and commander of the Department of the Mississippi Daniel Ruggles (1810-1897) requesting consultation on an action. In part: '...Brig. Gen. [William N. R.] Beall has written to me that all reports must pass through his Headquarters...his Headquarters are out of line of travel and his answers require 6 to 8 days to reach me...I have reported to him, but I must be excused for consulting you. An important question I would now ask you to decide, for my action, is whether the 'trade' being carried on with New Orleans and foreign ports, through Gilman and other authorized persons, and which trade is now centered at Wadesborough, is to be of sufficient magnitude to justify the exposure of the whole country tributary to Lake Maurepas, which can be protected by simply sinking a schooner loaded with shells or sand across the mouth...at Pass Manchac. Then this 'trade' will have to try the Tangipahoa River but if the foreign trade exceeds the sugar trade...than I would like to have permission to obstruct the Tangipahoa so that the railroad and Ponchatoula would be the only routes of attack...The moment Gilman's schooner clears the cotton (if not too late) will be the time to close the pass...it will take several days to prepare...' Twelve days prior to this, on September 15th, the town of Ponchatoula was captured by Union forces under the command of Gen. Benjamin Butler. His goal was to thwart any potential Confederate attempt to retake the city of New Orleans by destroying the Manchac railroad bridge just outside Ponchatoula. After a brief skirmish, Union troops occupied the town, destroyed the bridge, telegraph equipment, and twenty freight train cars filled with trade goods. The Confederates under Thompson would eventually rally with reinforcements and upon a Union retreat, retook Ponchatoula. Thompson is rightly worrisome in this letter about another Union attack, and thus does not want the practice of trade compromising his position. By blocking river access, he would know where to expect an advance, although another Union offensive would not come for another six months when Gen. Nathaniel Banks moved on the town to challenge the army of Stonewall Jackson.

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August 25, 2021 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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