2006-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/31/2006
A historic war-date Confederate officer's, 2pp. 4to., letter written in ink by Major Fletcher H. Archer, Petersburg, [Va.], Sept. 14, 1863 to Adjt. General William H. Richardson requesting confirmation of the disbanding of his force by Gen. Micah Jenkin, reading, in part: "…yesterday…the 13th I received an order in relation to my Battalion…the following is a copy…Hd. Qrs. Petersburg 12th Sept 1863…Special Orders No. 10. The second class militia, F. H. Archer major comdg, is hereby disbanded. The commanding officer will muster his command for pay before dismissal…I presume the term disbanded is simply intended to mean discharged from active service…as no general has authority to disband any organization of the state militia. If…I am mistaken…I would be glad to be instructed by you…if General Jenkins…has ascertained from him his real meaning, but he has left for the south west [to serve under Longstreet at Chickamauga and Knoxville]…I would be glad to know whether the Governor had any further orders for the battalion after being relieved from the present tour of duty…". Fletcher Archer was a born military leader. He commanded the Petersburg Greys during the Mexican War. He returned from the war and then became a well-respected member of the city's militia leading the Greys and other local commands during the Civil War. On May 9, 1862, Confederate forces evacuated Norfolk while McClellan occupied the Peninsula. On May14, Archer was ordered to patrol the abandoned region. Apparently, Archer remained active in patrolling the area, since he is credited with stopping the Butler's advance against Petersburg in mid June 1864 with only 125 old men and boys. From the personal papers of Lieutenant Colonel Fletcher H. Archer. VG
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