DAVIS, Jefferson (1808-1889), President, C. S. A . ALS ("Jeffn. Davis") to Secretary of War J. A. Seddon, 5 December 1863. 2 pp., 8vo . -- DAVIS. ALS ("Jeffn. Davis") to Gen. Braxton Bragg, Richmond, 14 May 1864. 1 page, 4to, inlaid . -- COOPER, Samuel (1798-1876), Senior Officer, Adjutant and Inspector General, C. S. A. ALS ("S. Cooper") to Jefferson Davis, 14 February 1864. A TRIO OF FINE WARTIME LETTERS REFLECTING DAVIS'S TENDENCY TO INTERFERE IN MILITARY OPERATIONS. Here he suggests some moves to his Secretary of War at the end of the 1863 campaign. He forwards a new dispatch from Robert E. Lee, and returns another from Gen. W. H. F. Lee, and tells Seddon: "The two considered in connection and taking into the account also the events of the past few days indicate the propriety of having scouts and pickets on the James River and in the country between Richmond and Pamunkey, also the necessity for reinforcing Genl. Lee's army. The restoration of Genl. Wise's command to his former field of duty, increased if possible by the addition of some mounted men may effect the first object. Genl. Longstreet I hope will soon give the means of fulfilling the second requirement. It may be that the forces of Hunter & Foster are for Suffolk or they may be sent up the York River to attack Richmond in rear of Lee, if they believe him held in check these or they may move to reinforce Hooker. In either of these events a rapid and decisive advance on the Rappahannock against the discomfited army of Genl. Hooker seems to be clearly indicated. Has anything more been heard of the enemy's cavalry in this neighborhood?" Five months later, Davis is writing Braxton Bragg, who was now the president's military advisor, telling him that "Gnl. Beauregard is not aware of the obstacles to his plan or of the hazard of delay. I concur in your view that our best policy is to concentrate our force and attack at the earliest moment when it can be done advantageously." Davis often "gave rein to his delusion that he was the equal of any one as a strategist" and while he deferred to Lee and Bragg, "he permitted his egotism and his irritability frequently to assert themselves" in dealing with all of his other subordinates ( DAB , 127). Davis's most senior military officer, Samuel Cooper was an old friend, but his role as "adjutant and inspector general" was sharply circumscribed within the administrative realm of army business. Here we see him forwarding Davis a paper on the "Staff Bill which has just passed both Houses of Congress." Together 3 items . (3)
DAVIS, Jefferson (1808-1889), President, C. S. A . ALS ("Jeffn. Davis") to Secretary of War J. A. Seddon, 5 December 1863. 2 pp., 8vo . -- DAVIS. ALS ("Jeffn. Davis") to Gen. Braxton Bragg, Richmond, 14 May 1864. 1 page, 4to, inlaid . -- COOPER, Samuel (1798-1876), Senior Officer, Adjutant and Inspector General, C. S. A. ALS ("S. Cooper") to Jefferson Davis, 14 February 1864. A TRIO OF FINE WARTIME LETTERS REFLECTING DAVIS'S TENDENCY TO INTERFERE IN MILITARY OPERATIONS. Here he suggests some moves to his Secretary of War at the end of the 1863 campaign. He forwards a new dispatch from Robert E. Lee, and returns another from Gen. W. H. F. Lee, and tells Seddon: "The two considered in connection and taking into the account also the events of the past few days indicate the propriety of having scouts and pickets on the James River and in the country between Richmond and Pamunkey, also the necessity for reinforcing Genl. Lee's army. The restoration of Genl. Wise's command to his former field of duty, increased if possible by the addition of some mounted men may effect the first object. Genl. Longstreet I hope will soon give the means of fulfilling the second requirement. It may be that the forces of Hunter & Foster are for Suffolk or they may be sent up the York River to attack Richmond in rear of Lee, if they believe him held in check these or they may move to reinforce Hooker. In either of these events a rapid and decisive advance on the Rappahannock against the discomfited army of Genl. Hooker seems to be clearly indicated. Has anything more been heard of the enemy's cavalry in this neighborhood?" Five months later, Davis is writing Braxton Bragg, who was now the president's military advisor, telling him that "Gnl. Beauregard is not aware of the obstacles to his plan or of the hazard of delay. I concur in your view that our best policy is to concentrate our force and attack at the earliest moment when it can be done advantageously." Davis often "gave rein to his delusion that he was the equal of any one as a strategist" and while he deferred to Lee and Bragg, "he permitted his egotism and his irritability frequently to assert themselves" in dealing with all of his other subordinates ( DAB , 127). Davis's most senior military officer, Samuel Cooper was an old friend, but his role as "adjutant and inspector general" was sharply circumscribed within the administrative realm of army business. Here we see him forwarding Davis a paper on the "Staff Bill which has just passed both Houses of Congress." Together 3 items . (3)
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
