Description:

SAMUEL G. FRENCH
(1818-1910) Confederate major general who fought under Johnston at Vicksburg and led a division at Atlanta and Franklin. SAMUEL FRENCH AND JOHN H. WINDER PART WAYS ON THE HOLDING OF PRISONERS Fine content and association war-date A.L.S. ‘S. G. French Maj. Genl. Comdg' 2pp. 4to. Petersburg, Mar. 12, 1863, to General JOHN H. WINDER (1800-1865) Confederate brigadier general and commander of the Confederate Libby Prison, Belle Isle and the notorious prison at Andersonville. He escaped the hangman, dying just before war's end. French refuses Winder's request that he relinquish his critical troops to guard prisoners at Petersburg for Winder, arguing, in part: ‘…I am in receipt of your letter of yesterday respecting sending prisoners south. Should I accede to your proposition, I would invoke…a delay whereby the prisoners would fail to make the connection with the departing train. I would require that the prisoners be placed in jail here, until escorts could be detailed, instructions written, and transportations provided and rations cooked, whereas if they leave Richmond with the preparations made, there will be no delay or expense of this kind incurred. Besides, the accommodations in the jail are very limited and are restricted by the City Council. I am perfectly willing to aid you all I can, but I really think changing the guards here would complicate matters. The number I have to send away from here on my own account is very great. I hope you will not think I am disinclined to aid you…I really think, considering our poor accommodations here, that the better way would be to have your guard increased…'. Although there was no significant military activity in Petersburg at the time of this letter, it is possible that French was anticipating the need for men in the subsequent construction of the defensive Dimmock Line, which would begin just two months later.

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January 18, 2024 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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