Description:

MISSISSIPPI DONATES TO JEFFERSON DAVIS' BAIL
BENJAMIN G. HUMPHREYS (1808 – 1882) Confederate brigadier general and later Governor of Mississippi, colonel of the 21st Mississippi Infantry. At Gettysburg, Humphreys's regiment was part of the force that attacked Federal positions at the Peach Orchard, driving the defenders back toward Cemetery Ridge. Humphreys also took command of Barksdale's brigade following the latter's death at Gettysburg. Fabulous content manuscript L.S. as Governor of Mississippi, 1p. 4to., Jackson, Mar. 28, 1867 to Thomas J. Swann, Mississippi Auditor of Public Accounts. In part: '...You will please issue your warrant for ($3000.00) Three Thousand Dollars...in accordance with the Act to provide for the defense of the Hon. Jefferson Davis approved Febry 21st 1867...' The letter is additionally endorsed at bottom by the cashier's representative, W. H. H. GREEN. Fine condition. Following his capture by Union troops on May 9, 1865, Davis was held in custody for over two years until released at Richmond on May 13, 1867, on bail of $100,000. The act from Mississippi, Davis' home state, was likely passed before any trial date was set, so it would be safe to assume that the state's donation was used to make the ex-president's bail. Others contributing to Davis' bail included Horace Greeley, Cornelius Vanderbilt and Gerrit Smith. Davis's case never went to trial. In February 1869, Attorney General William Evarts informed the court in Richmond that the federal government declared it was no longer prosecuting the charges - for reasons both political and practical. An important historic document.

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April 1, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000