LEE, ROBERT E., General, C.S.A. Autograph letter signed ("R.E. Lee Maj, Genl.") to Colonel St. George Cocke at Culpepper Court House; "Hd. Qrs., Richmond," 13 May 1861. 2 1/2 pages, 4to, page 4 bearing recipient's docket . "IN THE PRESENT CRISIS": LEE'S ADVICE TO A DISGRUNTLED OFFICER An long, elequent letter (entirely handwritten due to the personal nature of its contents), from the earliest weeks of Lee's command. Lee explains T. J. Jackson's semi-independent command at Harper's Ferry, and remonstrates with Cocke, who has questioned a recent change in his rank and aspects of his command in the Provisional Army. The change, Lee explains, "has resulted from the action of the Convention [the Confederate Provisional Congress]. Before the termination of its session an ordinance was passed requiring all appointments in the military Service by the Governor [Letcher] to be submitted to the Convention for Confirmation. The Convention also determined...to reduce the number of higher grades in the Service...which resulted in the renominating...of Service Officers for appointments to grades one degree lower than those to which they had originally been appointed. Genl. [John] Pegram, Genl. [Joseph Eggleston] Johnston, Genl [Daniel] Ruggles...were of this number." Another ordinance, Lee explains, gave Provisional officers rank above those of volunteer officers," and confirmed the higher rank of Ruggles and Linnett; "it therefore became necessary to change your Command which I did with great regret.... "When Col. [Thomas J. "Stonewall"] Jackson was sent to Harper's Ferry it was to muster into Service the Companies there assembled, with a view to organizing a force as rapidly as possible to hold that point. Hence he was not directed to report in person to you..., as that would have occasioned delay, though it was well understood that Harper's Ferry was embraced within your command...It was deemed advisable to give to ...[Jackson] command of that Station, without reference to any other question..." Lee hopes Cocke will perceive that "the changes in your Command were dictated by necessity and not by choice....Recognizing as fully as I do your merit, patriotism and devotion...I do not consider that either rank or position are necessary to bestow upon your honour...In the present crisis of affairs I know that your own feeling...will point out the best Course for you to pursue to advance the Cause in which you are engaged and to promote the interests of the Service which you have so much at heart..." Provenance : Unnamed owner (sale, Christie's, 1 October 1980, lot 66).
LEE, ROBERT E., General, C.S.A. Autograph letter signed ("R.E. Lee Maj, Genl.") to Colonel St. George Cocke at Culpepper Court House; "Hd. Qrs., Richmond," 13 May 1861. 2 1/2 pages, 4to, page 4 bearing recipient's docket . "IN THE PRESENT CRISIS": LEE'S ADVICE TO A DISGRUNTLED OFFICER An long, elequent letter (entirely handwritten due to the personal nature of its contents), from the earliest weeks of Lee's command. Lee explains T. J. Jackson's semi-independent command at Harper's Ferry, and remonstrates with Cocke, who has questioned a recent change in his rank and aspects of his command in the Provisional Army. The change, Lee explains, "has resulted from the action of the Convention [the Confederate Provisional Congress]. Before the termination of its session an ordinance was passed requiring all appointments in the military Service by the Governor [Letcher] to be submitted to the Convention for Confirmation. The Convention also determined...to reduce the number of higher grades in the Service...which resulted in the renominating...of Service Officers for appointments to grades one degree lower than those to which they had originally been appointed. Genl. [John] Pegram, Genl. [Joseph Eggleston] Johnston, Genl [Daniel] Ruggles...were of this number." Another ordinance, Lee explains, gave Provisional officers rank above those of volunteer officers," and confirmed the higher rank of Ruggles and Linnett; "it therefore became necessary to change your Command which I did with great regret.... "When Col. [Thomas J. "Stonewall"] Jackson was sent to Harper's Ferry it was to muster into Service the Companies there assembled, with a view to organizing a force as rapidly as possible to hold that point. Hence he was not directed to report in person to you..., as that would have occasioned delay, though it was well understood that Harper's Ferry was embraced within your command...It was deemed advisable to give to ...[Jackson] command of that Station, without reference to any other question..." Lee hopes Cocke will perceive that "the changes in your Command were dictated by necessity and not by choice....Recognizing as fully as I do your merit, patriotism and devotion...I do not consider that either rank or position are necessary to bestow upon your honour...In the present crisis of affairs I know that your own feeling...will point out the best Course for you to pursue to advance the Cause in which you are engaged and to promote the interests of the Service which you have so much at heart..." Provenance : Unnamed owner (sale, Christie's, 1 October 1980, lot 66).
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
