Description:

WILLIAM H. C. WHITING
(1824-1865) Confederate major general and defender of Wilmington, wounded in action at Second Battle of Fort Fisher, dying just before war's end. Very rare war-date A.L.S ‘W. H. C. Whiting', 1p. 4to., ‘Hd. Qrs Wilmington [?], Jan. 7, 1863, to ‘Lt. Col. A. Anderson, Adjt. General' in response to an inquiry regarding assistant quartermaster John W. Cameron. On blue lined ‘adversity' letterhead, in part: ‘…In reply to your note…of today in relation Maj. Cameron I have rec'd…16 accounts today as Chief Q'r M. of the Regt.; but to add for this information of the General and…rec'd no order relating to Maj. [?] upon his duties as district Q'M at Wilmington, assigned by command by the Sec'y of War…he has been assigned as Q'M in my staff of special [?] defense of this place - Sp. orders No. 166 & 229 of /63. I presume that Genl order No. 2 was called for by the…enemy's second attack…'. Wilmington was one of the most important points of entry for supplies for the entire Confederate States and the most important blockade running port. In November 1862, Whiting became commander of the military district of Cape Fear with headquarters at Wilmington, and devised the Cape Fear defense system. He was credited for the skillful innovations and artillery placement that developed Fort Fisher into the strongest defense works of the Confederate Army, and whose long-range guns kept Union blockaders well out to sea. This work garnered Whiting the irritation of Jefferson Davis for his constant requests for more arms and men, but sustained the vital importation of supplies to the Confederacy throughout the war. Significant fading results in illegible areas of text. Neatly tipped to a larger sheet and worthy of proper transcription and conservation. Estimated accordingly.

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September 10, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
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$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