BENJAMIN, JUDAH PHILIP, Secretary of War, C.S.A. Autograph letter signed ("J.P. Benjamin") to Major General Gustavus Woodson Smith at Fairfax Court House, Virginia; Richmond, 7 October 1861. One page, 4to, on imprinted stationery of the War Department, C.S.A., with a stamped printed envelope bearing a circular engraved portrait of Benjamin captioned "No. 9 Secesh Chain." A rare autograph letter of the Confederate Secretary of War, relaying information directly from President Davis. "I answer at the President's request your memorandum of 2d. inst. 1st. It is not possible to spare Col. Hood, He has been ordered to other service, and will leave for Western Virginia in a day or two with his Regiment. 2nd. Lt. Randall never having made any explanation either to the President or this Department of his resignation, cannot be appointed to the post you suggest. If that officer thinks injustice has been done to him, he owes it to the President as well as to himself to state his case and ask for redress. As long as he fails...he cannot be the recipient of an appointment from the Executive...." Benjamin (1811-1884), born in the West Indies, was raised in South Carolina, attended Yale University, then became an influential lawyer and citizen in New Orleans. He was elected to the U.S. Senate from Louisiana, becoming the first avowedly Jewish member of that body. He resigned in Febrruary 1861 to become the Confederate provisional government's Attorney General, then in September succeeded to the post of Secretary of War, and later, in March 1862, to the office of Secretary of State. Fleeing to England after the fall of the Confederacy, he enjoyed a distinguished career as Queen's Counsel and legal author.
BENJAMIN, JUDAH PHILIP, Secretary of War, C.S.A. Autograph letter signed ("J.P. Benjamin") to Major General Gustavus Woodson Smith at Fairfax Court House, Virginia; Richmond, 7 October 1861. One page, 4to, on imprinted stationery of the War Department, C.S.A., with a stamped printed envelope bearing a circular engraved portrait of Benjamin captioned "No. 9 Secesh Chain." A rare autograph letter of the Confederate Secretary of War, relaying information directly from President Davis. "I answer at the President's request your memorandum of 2d. inst. 1st. It is not possible to spare Col. Hood, He has been ordered to other service, and will leave for Western Virginia in a day or two with his Regiment. 2nd. Lt. Randall never having made any explanation either to the President or this Department of his resignation, cannot be appointed to the post you suggest. If that officer thinks injustice has been done to him, he owes it to the President as well as to himself to state his case and ask for redress. As long as he fails...he cannot be the recipient of an appointment from the Executive...." Benjamin (1811-1884), born in the West Indies, was raised in South Carolina, attended Yale University, then became an influential lawyer and citizen in New Orleans. He was elected to the U.S. Senate from Louisiana, becoming the first avowedly Jewish member of that body. He resigned in Febrruary 1861 to become the Confederate provisional government's Attorney General, then in September succeeded to the post of Secretary of War, and later, in March 1862, to the office of Secretary of State. Fleeing to England after the fall of the Confederacy, he enjoyed a distinguished career as Queen's Counsel and legal author.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
