Description:

SAM COOPER AND THOMAS JORDAN
SAM COOPER (1798 - 1876) Confederate major general who was the highest-ranking officer in the Confederate army. He served as Inspector General in Richmond throughout the war and fled with Jefferson Davis when the capital fell. Fine content secretarially written and signed war-date telegram, 1p. 8vo., Richmond, July 19, 1861 - only two days before First Bull Run, the first major engagement of the war. Cooper sends this message to Gen. P. G. T. BEAUREGARD (1818-1893), who would lead slightly more than half of the Confederate forces dedicated to the battle. Cooper writes, in full: 'We have no intelligence from Genl. Johnston. If the enemy in front of you has abandoned an immediate attack & Genl. Johnston has not moved, you had better withdraw the call upon him, so that he may be left to his full discretion. All the troops arriving at Lynchburg are ordered to join you from this place, we will send as fast as transportation permits. The enemy is advised at Washington of the projected movement of Generals Johnston and Holmes, & may vary his plans in conformity thereto...' In reality, Johnston's forces had luckily already arrived or would within hours. If Beauregard had heeded the overly-cautious Cooper's warning and withdrawn his appeal for Johnston's reinforcements, it's certain that a surprise attack of the Confederate defensive position along the south bank of the Bull Run River would have overwhelmed Beauregard's forces. On the verso of the telegram, future general Gen. THOMAS JORDAN (1819-1895), a general staff officer with Beauregard at the battle, penned a bitter, initialed complaint about Cooper's hesitation sometime after the war. He writes: 'Characteristic. No sooner than the little success of the 18th July, than it was supposed at Richmond a check was effected, concentration stopped that had been wrenched out of them by fear. This was their way throughout the War. Just as soon as you gained success at Petersburg, in June 1864, reinforcements granted in emergency were suspended though it was plain enemy would renew attack. T. J.' A fine historical piece. Very good.

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January 26, 2023 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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