2008-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2008
Directly from the Calyton family of South Carolina, formerly Mississippi, comes this family archive of documents and letters. For simplicity, we have grouped the +/-80 piece archive into three separate sections as follows. The Hero’s incident: As recorded in this 1926 War Department document, William P. Clayton, first enlisted on June 5, 1861 in "D" Co. MS 9th Infantry but was discharged “because of extreme youth, August 17, 1861.” Clayton reenlisted in "G" Co. MS 17th Infantry but was again discharged because of his youth. Clayton reenlisted a third time, February 1, 1863 as a private of Co. F 2nd regiment (Dukes) Kentucky Calvary. In his pencil letter home, Lebanon (KY), November 16, 1862, Clayton recounts his daring episode, “I have two Navy pistols and a Sharps rifle which I captured from yanks. I captured one pistol and the rifle from a yank at Lexington, and I captured my other pistol and a horse from one at Gallatin Tenn on the the 5th of this month.” He continues, “... we were cut off from the column by Yanks four or five thousand strong... had to take the back track... the guard sent two of us to the river and just as we got there two yanks came across and we took them prisoners. They had twenty or thirty of us nearly surrounded in the city of Gallatin. ... He continues, “We had a fight on the fifth at Edgefield and the advance guard were ordered to charge thirty or forty yanks and only four charged them and I was one of the four and the men say I charged closer to them than anybody ...I went ten or fifteen steps of them and fired my gun twice ....” The incident is further detailed in in an March 6, 1896 ALS, “N.W.Lea,” Captain Co. F 2nd Ky Cavalry, certifying Clayton’s heroic action, in part, “ ... on the Ohio raid, W.P. Clayton, captured alone 17 armed Home Guards although wounded badly in the left arm, would allow none of us to aid him + after requiring each to march up + lay his gun down, refused any aid to go with him to Headquarters + so marched them off some 3 miles to Gen’l. Morgan’s Headquarters + delivered them himself.” (3 pieces). Miscellaneous Confederate items: There are an additional 7 Confederate documents and letters and also fifteen (15) various CSA, State and Fractional bills, all in worn condition, total Confederate 25 pieces. Also included, but not directly related to Clayton, are 6 miscellaneous Federal documents, some incomplete. (46 pieces). Miscellaneous pre/post war manuscript items: This section contains +/- 35 documents and letters. Included is an ALS from Clayton’s father, “D.B. Clayton,” Holly Springs Miss., June 13th, 1857 to Hon. Jeff Davis (then reappointed Senator) in part, “to tender to you a public reception ... to accept such a testimonial of high esteem in which you are held ...” Also, another 1896 ALS “N.W.Lea,” Captain Co. F 2nd Ky Cavalry, 8pp., with considerable reflective content of the war period. The balance of the items are receipts, court findings, speeches. (35 pieces).
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