2021-05 Raynors HCA Live
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/21/2021
EWELL, Richard Stoddert (1817-1872) was a career United States Army officer and a Confederate general during the American Civil War. He achieved fame as a senior commander under Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee and fought effectively through much of the war, but his legacy has been clouded by controversies over his actions at the Battle of Gettysburg and at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. War-date Confederate General Autograph Letter Signed "R.S. Ewell M.G. C.S.A." 1pp. quarto, Richmond, Virginia, March 13, 1863, and reads in part: "...I have seen Colonel Holliday who was on duty as Judge Advocate of the Gen. Ct. Martial for the trial of Gen. Garnett losing his arm was unable to attend. A new Judge Advocate was appointed but now went on duty. Colonel Holliday is now able to proceed with the court. ...If General Lee desires that the court should continue its sittings that the proceedings which I sent to you a few days since may be returned to me. I don't know as regards Colonel Brockenborough but the other members (Early, Trimble, Archer, Col. Taleferro) are still living. Please let me know if it is desired to continue to trial..." Fine condition. During Jackson's Valley Campaign of 1862, Garnett's military career took a downward turn at the First Battle of Kernstown in March. Jackson marched his army 40 miles (64 km) to intercept a portion of the Union Army under Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks. On March 23, Jackson's cavalry commander, Col. Turner Ashby, brought faulty intelligence that the retreating Union division of Brig. Gen. James Shields had four regiments in the rear outside Winchester, Virginia. Since that force was of comparable size to Jackson's, he ordered Garnett and the Stonewall Brigade to attack. Unfortunately, Shields had a full infantry division on hand, almost 9,000 men, twice the size of Jackson's force. The attack went badly and Garnett, finding his brigade low on ammunition and surrounded by forces attacking from three sides, ordered a retreat. Jackson was infuriated and accused Garnett of disobeying orders, since he did not have Jackson's permission to retreat. Jackson, well known as a strict disciplinarian, arrested Garnett for "neglect of duty" on April 1 and relieved him of command. Garnett's court-martial started in August 1862, with only Jackson and his aide giving testimony. However, the trial was suspended due to the start of Gen. Robert E. Lee's Northern Virginia Campaign and the Second Battle of Bull Run that August. Lee ordered Jackson to release Garnett from arrest and he was assigned to command the injured George Pickett's brigade in Lt. Gen. James Longstreet's First Corps in the Army of Northern Virginia.
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