Autograph letter signed "W J Hardee" to Paul J. Semmes, asking that he represent the state of Georgia in the purchase of arms and munitions in the North.
Milledgeville, GA: 24 November 1860. 3 pp. (243 x 198 mm). Condition : light folds, else fine. one month before the secession of south carolina, hardee arranges for the purchase of arms for the state of georgia: "…in these trying times you must make some sacrifices to serve your state…" On 18 November 1860, only a week after Lincoln was elected President, the Georgia legislature voted to assign $1,000,000 for the purpose of purchasing arms. Governor Joseph E. Brown asked Colonel Hardee, then on leave as Commandant of West Point, to personally go north to make the necessary arrangements. Mindful that his extracurricular activities would run him afoul of federal authorities, Hardee here asks Semmes to act as agent for the state. He writes: "Had a long conversation with Gov. Brown respecting the purchase of arms for the State of Georgia. The Gov. proposed that I should act as the agent of the state and go at once to the North and obtain such arms and munitions as are of a pressing necessity. With every disposition to serve the state I felt great embarrassment in receiving a commission which might be regarded as inconsistent with my obligations to the Gen'l Government. Besides, when it became known to the authorities in what capacity I was acting they might with propriety break up the business by ordering me forthwith to any fort in the West. I proposed to the Governor if he would appoint you as the Agent of the state that I would with pleasure accompany you to the North and give such aid to the purchase as I might be able. I told him I knew you well, that we were old friends, that I had entire confidence in your ability and that he might depend on concert of action between us. He seemed much pleased at this suggestion, said he would be delighted to obtain your services, that the soldiery & the State generally would have confidence in what you might do, but feared you might not be willing to accept the position. Now, my dear friend, in these trying times you must make some sacrifices to serve your state, and you could not do it more certainly than by accepting this commission. Let us go on together and do all in our power to arm and equip the state. We are sadly in want of every thing except the 'bone & sinew.'…" A remarkable early letter illustrating the breathtakingly rapid pace of events toward secession in the wake of Lincoln's election. Even though Georgia had not formally seceded from the Union, its legislature and governor were clearly anticipating such a move. It was not until 18 January 1861 that Georgia formally left the Union. Hardee then resigned his U.S. Army commission and accepted a colonel's commission in the Confederate Army. Semmes too became a colonel in the 2nd Georgia regiment.
Autograph letter signed "W J Hardee" to Paul J. Semmes, asking that he represent the state of Georgia in the purchase of arms and munitions in the North.
Milledgeville, GA: 24 November 1860. 3 pp. (243 x 198 mm). Condition : light folds, else fine. one month before the secession of south carolina, hardee arranges for the purchase of arms for the state of georgia: "…in these trying times you must make some sacrifices to serve your state…" On 18 November 1860, only a week after Lincoln was elected President, the Georgia legislature voted to assign $1,000,000 for the purpose of purchasing arms. Governor Joseph E. Brown asked Colonel Hardee, then on leave as Commandant of West Point, to personally go north to make the necessary arrangements. Mindful that his extracurricular activities would run him afoul of federal authorities, Hardee here asks Semmes to act as agent for the state. He writes: "Had a long conversation with Gov. Brown respecting the purchase of arms for the State of Georgia. The Gov. proposed that I should act as the agent of the state and go at once to the North and obtain such arms and munitions as are of a pressing necessity. With every disposition to serve the state I felt great embarrassment in receiving a commission which might be regarded as inconsistent with my obligations to the Gen'l Government. Besides, when it became known to the authorities in what capacity I was acting they might with propriety break up the business by ordering me forthwith to any fort in the West. I proposed to the Governor if he would appoint you as the Agent of the state that I would with pleasure accompany you to the North and give such aid to the purchase as I might be able. I told him I knew you well, that we were old friends, that I had entire confidence in your ability and that he might depend on concert of action between us. He seemed much pleased at this suggestion, said he would be delighted to obtain your services, that the soldiery & the State generally would have confidence in what you might do, but feared you might not be willing to accept the position. Now, my dear friend, in these trying times you must make some sacrifices to serve your state, and you could not do it more certainly than by accepting this commission. Let us go on together and do all in our power to arm and equip the state. We are sadly in want of every thing except the 'bone & sinew.'…" A remarkable early letter illustrating the breathtakingly rapid pace of events toward secession in the wake of Lincoln's election. Even though Georgia had not formally seceded from the Union, its legislature and governor were clearly anticipating such a move. It was not until 18 January 1861 that Georgia formally left the Union. Hardee then resigned his U.S. Army commission and accepted a colonel's commission in the Confederate Army. Semmes too became a colonel in the 2nd Georgia regiment.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
