Description:

THOMAS J. 'STONEWALL' JACKSON
(1824 - 1863) Confederate lieutenant general and a brilliant yet somewhat eccentric tactician, he gained his nickname from his stand at Bull Run and served as Lee's right hand in the Seven Days, in Maryland and at Chancellorsville where he was accidentally shot by Confederate pickets while riding between lines. Rare partly-printed diploma issued by the Military Institute, 1p. 15.5 x 20.5 in. vellum, Lexington, July 4, 1856. The diploma is awarded to James Lawrence Meem, who would be mustered into Co. 'G' , 11th Virginia Infantry on April 23, 1861 and killed on May 31, 1862 at Seven Pines. At bottom it is signed by a number of Meem's professors, including 'T. J. Jackson' as a professor of philosophy, FRANCIS H. SMITH (1812–1890), the first Superintendent of V.M.I. who also served as a major general in the Virginia militia and a colonel in the Confederate States Army; THOMAS H. WILLIAMSON (1813-1888) Lieutenant Colonel of Engineers in Provisional Army of Virginia. Jackson requested that he be temporarily released from his duties and assigned to his command; WILLIAM B. TALIAFERRO (1822-1898), Confederate major general who fought with Jackson in the Valley, and commanded Jackson's division at Fredericksburg; JOHN T. L. PRESTON (1811–1890), a primary founder and organizer of V.M.I. who also served as an aide to Jackson; RALEIGH E. COLSTON (1825-1896) Confederate brigadier general who led brigades under Longstreet and Jackson, and commanded a division at Chancellorsville; WILLIAM RICHARDSON Adjutant General of Virginia; JAMES L. KEMPER (1823-1895), Confederate brigadier general who fought at 1st Bull Run, Seven Pines, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg. At Gettysburg he was desperately wounded and captured during Pickett's charge; ANDREW RUSSELL MEEM (1821-1865) Confederate surgeon who served throughout the war. Most importantly, Meem was one of the surgeons who administered to the wounded VMI cadets after the Battle of New Market, and we suspect here sends his own son to his ultimate death, and HENRY A. WISE (1806-1876), Confederate general during the Civil War and 33rd Governor of Virginia. As always, some of the text is a bit light and the signatures spotty on the vellum surface, else very good with ribbon and seal. An excellent combination of rare signatures.

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

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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