Raynors 2020-05 Putnal
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/30/2020
A good Confederate colonel's letter defending men of his command who were accused of plundering loyal Southern town, 1 1/2pp. 4to. written by Col. D. T. Blakey, 1st Alabama Cavalry, "Head Qrs. Hagan's Brigade, Saults X Roads, North Carolina, March 30, 1865, reading, in part: "…I have made diligent inquiry…in regard to the plundering of Graniteville and cannot get any satisfactory information…as all the officers and most of the men were at that time confronting the enemy in the vicinity of Aiken. I have little doubt that some stragglers from this brigade were among the number that committed the depredations complains of by the citizens, but at this time it would be impossible to identify the men…I have reason to believe that…any of Genl. Wheeler's command were the instigators or chief actors in the scenes of plunder…Dr. Francis sr. surgeon of the brigade was present at Graniteville at one period of the day referred to and states that he saw a large number of infantry belonging to Maj. Genl. Cheatham's command loaded with plunder, also quite a number of citizens…that the number of men…belonging to Genl. Wheeler's command was comparatively small. The cloth referred to in Genl. Hill's endorsement was obtained at Baneburg station…by Lieut. Col. [Josiah] Robin comdg. 3rd Ala. Cav. who was instructed to burn and destroy all Govt. property likely to fall into the hands of the enemy, so…he allowed his men to take as much as they desired. It is a well-known fact in the command that a number of men of the 3rd…packed upon their horses…bolts of cloth which was obtained at Baneburg. It is probable that the cloth Genl. Hill saw was of that lot…D. T. Blakey, Col. Comdg." Some toning and spotting, else VG
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