Lot 524
General William E. Strong: The Death of Gen'l McPherson, The Capture of Fort McAllister. General William Emerson Strong (1840-1891) raised a company in Wisconsin immediately upon the first call for troops in April of 1861. After a good showing at Blackburn's Ford and the Battle of Bull run, he was promoted to Major of the 12th Wisconsin Infantry and thereafterassociated with the Army of the Tennessee. Strong was assigned to General McPherson's staff (he received McPherson's last orders moments before that General's death) and then served General Howard as Chief of Staff. After the war, Strong remained friends with General Sheridan and others and was dedicated to the memory of the Union Army, helping to found the Loyal Legion, giving speeches and collecting papers related to the Civil War.
Bound copybook with "carbon" copy of two reports by Gen. Strong. Fifty-four pages of text with eight blank pages in the center, leather-covered boards, front cover embossed with title.Toning; large water stains to top of pages, smaller stain at bottom (all of the pages remain largely legible, as do penciled comments by the General); one page is torn but complete. Good condition.
Copied here in a professional hand are two detailed reports, the first about the death of James Birdseye McPherson at the Battle of Atlanta on July 22, 1864. McPherson's death was felt particularly hard by his fellow officers; he was the highest ranking officer inthe Union Army to be killed in battle and was universally admired, but the prevailing notion among civlians was that he died taking unncessary risks, possibly in deriliction of duty. Strong offers his account beliving that "a great injustice has been done in this regard" and "I deem it my duty to write out [for publication] the facts while they are still fresh in my memory." What follows is an amazingly detailed report, complete with the transcript of Sherman's last letter to McPherson about troop movements (dated July 22) and McPherson's subsequent letter to Gen. Dodge. Lt. Sherfy's (one of the men nearest the General when they encountered Rebel troops) account of the General's death is included, as is the report of Pvt. Reynolds, who was with the General when he died. A rare, detailed account of the death of a general and the battle of July 22.
The second record in this copybook is an equally detailed account of the capture of Fort McAllister on December 13, 1862. "'The fort must be captured' -- so said General Sherman the night previous in a special order…" A comprehensive account follows, which includes camp conditions, troop movements, conversation between officers, and the evacuation of Savannah. An invaluable and exhaustive account of the Union Army's activites in the South.
Estimated Value $700-UP.
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| Realized $414 |
