Raynors HCA 2019-05
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/30/2019
A historic Southern letter, 4pp. 8vo., written by retired civil engineer Theodore S. Garnett (1812-1885), Cedar Hill, Hanover, [Va.], March 6, 1864, to his cousin, about God's aid, and Stuart's cavalrymen, in the defeat of Kilpatrick and Dahlgren in their failed raid upon Richmond in late February 1864, reading, in part: "…the late diabolical raid of Kilpatrick, Dahlgren & Co[mpany] has been the all-in-grossing subject of thought and conversation…for the last week & whileI felt no serious apprehensions of danger for our cause…during its progress. I have been very much annoyed, mortified and vexed that this scoundrels should have had it their power to do us so much private mischief & am only surprised that the amount of mischief done is so small in comparison…I can never feel sufficiently thankful to God for His wonderful mercy in raising a wall of defense for us out of the craven spirit which he infused into the heartless limbs, muscles & sinews of the monsters in man's shape which he has seen fit to allow on our soil. Great moral results must flow from the signal failure of this grand expedition. Dalgreen [Col. Ulric Dalhgren] was killed by the hand of God more plainly than if a thunderbolt had entered his body because…of this black villainy of our enemies…the whole execration of the whole world must overwhelm such a people and we have learned another lesson of caution. Retributive justice will be visited upon these miscreants in our summer's campaign. God will surely make our armies the instrument of his holy vengeance. Genl. Stuart & staff were with us from Friday morning till this morning. Theo. [his son, Major Theodore S. Garnett, Jr. as aide de camp to General JEB Staurt] was with them. He rode 75 miles in 24 hours & slept but one night in 4…& 3 days riding. He stands it very well & seems pleased with his station…the enemy were within 2 miles of us last Tuesday morning…but became alarmed as soon as our guns opened on them & retreated with the loss of only 3 killed & 2 captured. This occurred near the South Anna bridge on the R. F. & P. RR where we had a very small force…they had 600 cavalry & two pieces of artillery. They could have destroyed the bridge, taken our 4 guns & captured all who were not killed -would not run. We had 'nobody hurt'…in the course of that day 10 of our cavalry under Capt. George Emack from Maryland [1st Battalion Maryland Cavalry] charged 40 of the enemy, put them to flight & captured several of them. The whole history of the raid is full of incidents…more remarkable than this…your affectionate cousin, Theodore S. Garnett." Theodore S. Garnett, Sr. (1812-1885) educated Elmwood and University of Virginia was a distinguished civil engineer who is credited with helping build many of Virginia's important rail lines from 1835 through 1855 especially as chief engineer and superintendent of the Charlotte, Columbia & Augusta, RR and North Carolina RR from Raleigh to Charlotte. He retired to his plantation at Cedar Hill in 1858 and lived there until his death in 1885. His son, Theodore, Junior, also a graduate of UVA, rose through the Confederate ranks to service on the staff of Jeb Stuart in 1864. Near fine.
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