Raynors 2020-05 Putnal
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/30/2020
GRIFFITH, Richard (1814-1862) was a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He was mortally wounded at the Battle of Savage's Station during the 1862 Peninsula Campaign. He was one of a number of Confederate generals who were born in the North in Pennsylvania. On June 29, 1862, Griffith and his men were pursuing Union soldiers retreating from positions on the Nine Mile Road when they encountered elements of Maj. Gen. Edwin V. Sumner's II Corps near Savage's Station, who were guarding the Union forces' retreat. In heavy artillery fire, Griffith was wounded in his thigh by a shell fragment. When he was informed that he was fatally wounded, it is reported that General Griffith said, "If only I could have led my brigade through this battle, I would have died satisfied." Griffith was taken to Richmond, but succumbed to his wounds the same day. War-date Confederate generals Autograph Letter Signed "R.Griffith" 3pp. quarto, Head Quarters Seventh Brigade, 1st Corps, Army of Potomac, Leesburg, Va., December 29, 1861, and reads in part: "For the present Tom [his slave] can go putting the place in good order - such as clearing up the grounds nicely, put the fencing in complete repair, fixing up out buildings, cleaning out the ponds, etc. etc. Mr. Allen will doubtless return by 1st February, and perhaps he would be the best to employ again under present circumstances - unless you have objections, and then don't employ him at any price whatever. Tom may be sufficient to raise and cultivate all the crops we want, although it might be much better to have a reliable white man on the place during these troublous and warlike times.... We do not feel very secure here just now, but with another Brigade of infantry, some 6 or 8 more pieces of Artillery - especially of Rifle, Parrot & Howitzer guns of long range, and some more cavalry, I think we could hold it against 20,000 of McClellan's best troops. But Genl. Beauregard cannot spare us any force at this time...The red flannel shirts and drawers came in the nick of time, and the neck comfort is valued beyond price. It is by far the best and prettiest I have seen here, and admired by all around me...If you can find any nice buff cloth, please send me enough to trim the cuffs and collar of my new coat to suit my rank; also enough of the narrow gold lace for another stripe on each sleeve of the coat - regulations requiring 4 strips for a Brigadier: Shaw & Doherty can't fit me in a vest..." Fine condition.
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