GENERAL FORREST & WHEELER ARE THE BEST CAVALRY IN THE

CONFEDERATE SERVICE AND A SECRET SOCIETY DEVELOPS IN JOHNSTON'S COMMAND

 

War-date Confederate soldier Autograph Letter Signed by Joseph J. Baker, 54th Virginia Infantry, POW at Marietta, GA June 1864, 4p. octavo, "camp 54 Va Reg. Dalton, GA April 12, 1864" and reads in part:

"I rec a letter from Mary Jane...she spoke of you being in the last call from 17 to 50.  I do hope that you will not have to leave home to fight to protect such unprincipled leaders as we have but if you do have to go the best way is to take it patiently and submit to military rules and regulations until the great day of recovering comes which I have no doubt will come before 18 months roll around....but if you find that you can't do that would be to join some cavalry in South West, VA.  Never go into an old infantry regiment so far as I am acquainted the infantry does the fighting.  The cavalry scouts and sometimes prevent flank movements upon an army.

We have the best cavalry in the Confederate Service, Forrest's and Wheeler's, and all they do is to gallop around and pull the Yankee's tails until the fight is brought up then you see the cavalry going back to the rear in the double quick.  The next a/c is they are several miles away  hunting buttermilk.  We never could get any buttermilk in our marches for the cavalry had always just been there and the old woman let them have every pint she had.  I know you have hard times to get along as it is but if this war continues much longer nearly all that you have will be pressed that is to eat but you have all may thank God that you are where you are so far away from any army and where there is no army likely to camp.  If our corps which is composed of 3 Divisions of the army were to camp on your farm one cold night and had orders to cook 4 days rations of corn bread and beef, you would not have enough nails left next morning to fence any old sow and pigs and if there should come up a cold rain the boards would be torn from the stables to make shelters and when the whole army moves you may guess how farms are laid waste. This destruction is against orders at ordinary times but in a force march or retreat it is impossible to prevent it or when there is a fight on hand.  Mary Jane said that she wished our reg would do as the 8th VA Cavalry did press furloughs but we are now where we can't do as we please should we attempt to do the like.  We would every one be in the guard house in less than 24 hours and in less thaqn 48 hours we would be dragging a ball and chain....There is also a secret society in this regiment or it is believed that it is here and from all accounts there is not good in it at least nothing in it to favor the Confederacy.  The same thing is suppose to be working throughout the entire army of Johnston's Command.  I fear it will injure our cause a discharge is offered to the man who will find the leader of it in this Brigade.  Today is a rainy day but I see 5 poor fellows policing the camp dragging each one of them a ball and chain.......etc.  

 

J J Baker  

                 Some dampstaining, else very good...$475.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a very rare Texas Planters Oath from Lavaca County, Texas. The document is written in period brown ink and dated the 23rd of September, 1865. James C. Finnie certifies on oath that three (3) bales of cotton "were produced by him on his plantation in Lavaca County and that said cotton was never the property of the late so called Confederate States" .....more very interesting text. An extremely nice document that's very legible. There is one small hole in the center fold that does not touch any text and affects nothing.....Several signatures......Great Southern History and Great Americana.....$375.00

Slave Bill's Of Sale. Have 19 more bills Most are for the sale of a single Slave $120.00make offer for a Group

This document is acknowledgement that Capt.Davis a freed slave..bought his wife's darky from another man set her free issuing her a deed of emancapation know as free papers for a slave.Slaves without these papers are called contraband.her name was Darky his name was captain which was a common slave name. This is a compelling and rare part of American history. This document is in superb conditon. Price $650.00