Description:

PAUL J. SEMMES REPORTS HIS PROMOTION TO BRIGADIER GENERAL
PAUL J. SEMMES (1815 - 1863) Confederate brigadier general who commanded a brigade at Seven Pines and in the Seven Days, defended Marye's Height at Fredericksburg, and was killed at the Wheatfield at Gettysburg. Extremely rare, lengthy A.L.S. ‘Brig. Gen. Paul J. Semmes' with historically important military and fine personal content, 8pp. 4to., Lebanon Church [‘Near Yorktown Va'], undated but written during the Peninsula Campaign of March to July, 1862, to his wife, Emily. Semmes offers an apology for his delay in writing, continuing: ‘… I have seized a few moments almost in full view of the enemies guns & within their distinct sound, & the whistling of the solid shot &… explosions of the shells, to write you… I have… stand camp life and its experiences quite well, & trust that the good Lord will… give me personal… strength to serve my country to some purpose against her enemies…' He goes on to discuss the latest movements of his command, in small part: ‘...After halting at Orange C[ourt] H[ouse] for some days… we marched some 10 or 12 miles on the plank road towards Fredericksburg, to foil a movement of the enemy… At 12 Monday a storm of 60 hours duration commenced, of rain, hail, sleet and snow – The troops were nearly the whole time without a tent or any covering. Still, those who have been so long in the field appear to have been hardened to about any exposure… The men are generally in fine health and spirits. We returned through the storm to Orange C. H… & were ordered to to Richmond… We remained in Richmond Friday night – Saturday and Saturday night. Sunday morning I went across the Capitol square from the American Hotel to a Presbyterian Church & the minister was in the midst of an interesting sermon, when my orderly came after me & told me I have an order for the march. I left the church immediately and reported to Genl [Robert] Toombs Hd. Qu. for orders. We made ready – got up to the Boats after a march of [?] miles – embarked & steamed off with the whole Brigade… landed at Driggs [?] Mills wharf on James River… We are now face to face with an immense force of the enemy, in hearing & almost sight of their guns, which are firing almost every minute during the day, & sometimes, during the night at intervals… My Head Quarters are not more than 1 ½ to 2 miles from the enemies Batteries, & shells could readily reach here. They are of course hidden from the view of the enemy – A great Battle is imminent any hour… They have a very large force – we too have not a small one. I must leave behind that we ought to have established our lines of defence so near the Court. The Battle for the defence of Richmond ought to be fought close under the walls. But our force is large, self reliant & determined. Our lines extend a distance of about 6 miles – We have many troops here & many in reserve. There is no doubt the that great battles are soon to be fought here & around Richmond. The enemy has no doubt made every preparation insure success; but if they succeed it will be after desperate fighting… I myself do not believe that we will be defeated… Our pickets are continually skirmishing with those of the enemy, & as I before said, the artillery keeps up a fire, almost continually…' He picks up his writing again at a later time, informing Emily that he has been promoted to Brigadier General and providing details of his new command: ‘...Since I wrote you, I have been ordered to report (as Brig. Gen.) to Gen Joseph E. Johnston Comdg. the Army of the Potomac. When I called to report at his Hd. Qu. Near Orange C. H. he was absent at Richmond. I did not report to him, consequently waited a day or two… When I did, he told me that Brig. Gen D[avid] R Jones Comdg. the 1 Division would be absent 24 or 48 hours, & that therefore, Gen Toombs would temporarily command the [1st] Division & that he desired me to command the 1 Brig, 1 Div Toombs for the time. I am therefore temporarily in command of Toombs' Brigade (1 Brig 1 Div) comprised of the 2d Ga Vol (Maj Butt) - 1st Ga Regulars (Col Magall) - 17 Ga Vol (Col Browning) - 15 Ga vol (Col M Stark, formerly Col Thomas) - 38 Va Vol (Col Edmunds) – in all about 2300 men. Gen Jones was taken sick at Richmond with Pneumonia & therefore, I am still in command of the Brigade… Gen Jones has been nominated as [Maj] Gen by the President and the Senate, but there appears to be some difficulty in the way of his Confirmation – If confirmed, he will be doubtless assigned to the command of the 1 Division… thus leaving the Brigade without a commander – to which, I fear, Gen Johnston will assign me… When assigned, if assigned to a command in the Army of the Potomac or of the Peninsula, or to any of the armies near Richmond, I will go a few days to Richmond to prepare to take the field…' He goes on to describe the his current position and military situation near Yorktown: ‘... You know this Peninsula lies on the Chesapeake Bay & is made by the James on the west & the York River on the east – our lines extend across from river to river… We changed our position yesterday – and also today… only about 1 ¼ miles to the enemies Batteries - & not more than 1000 yards… lines from my Hd. Qu. We are in easy shelling distance but the enemy doesn't know where we are! Now & then, a man or horse is killed or wounded. I am exceptionally fatigued & must now stop - to inform you specifically, I will say that my promotion dates the 11th day of March [1862]…' Semmes closes with a lengthy reflection on the grace of God and the perils of the soldier's existence, predicting that ‘...Under the… circumstances, the war must be a protracted & bloody one…' In the left margin of the first page, he provides instructions for Emily on how to address future letters: ‘Brig. Gen. Paul J. Semmes Comdg. 1 Brig. 1 Divis. at Yorktown Va.' The majority of letters and documents known to have been written by Semmes' are unsigned, or signed only with his initials; we have not handled an example signed with his full name in over a decade, and have never dealt with one featuring his ultimate rank. He additionally signs off with his initials ‘P. J. S.' at the top right corner of the 7th page. The letter shows some considerable staining overall, with notable paper loss due to rodent damage at the edges and center, with well-executed archival tape repairs thereto, but remains in very good legible condition overall.

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November 14, 2025 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

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