2020-01 Putnal
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/18/2020
SMITH, Thomas, Church Haskell (1819-1897) Brigadier general who helped John Pope bring the case against Fitz John Porter for the defeat at 2nd Bull Run. Autograph Letter Signed, "T.C.H. Smith" 6p. octavo, Head Quarters Near Sperryville, August 2nd, 1862, to his wife and for rubbing is from all your experience the best cure. Dear little woman I have no desire to remain the Army when I can be at home consistently with duty but suppose peace were declared tomorrow and I should be offered a position that would enable me to get us out of debt and have my family with me as officers do in times of peace. It would be for us to consider whether it would not be better to live a wandering life for a year or two if necessary in order to be above want and independent. There is no use in discussing the matter now for the conjunction is not likely to rise. But while you know very well I am not in the Army for pay - but because I feel one national existence and all we hold dear in family as well as country is at stake or tried by the tremendous arbitrament of war - if I render such service as gives me an honorable position and one in which I should be worth to the Gove what I intend to receive, it would be a question for us to consider whether we had not better avoid the further presence of debt…I shall not ask for leave till there is a lull. The enemy taking advantage of their great accession of numbers & are weakness is making a tremendous effort to end the war. They hope by receiving all the slave territory & invading devastating the North. Pope's Generalship has already checked them. It has been splendid then for they have not dared thus far to enter the valley. They are now evacuating Richmond or have been as report say for some time say two weeks, & are probably concentrating a great price to overpower us. Let them come. The Generalship of Pope is an Army of Itself and if we cannot defeat them we can foil them. His management of the campaign thus far has been a most interesting study to me & is grand. The troops do not understand what they are marched here & there for & why the valley is left bare except Winchester & yet the enemy do not enter it. But Jackson understands it & as soon as he saw the advanced position Pope took & the disposition of his troops stopped where he was & sent for reinforcements or changed the plan of his campaign. Send in the trunk my saddle cloth - Army shoes and anything else I have named…Tomorrow I attend the Genl to review Genl. Banks Army Corps…" Fine.
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