2008-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2008
WEBB, Alexander Stewart (1835-1911) was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War who won the Medal of Honor for gallantry at the Battle of Gettysburg. After the war, he was president of the City College of New York for thirty-three years. CHAMBERLAIN, Joshua Lawrence (1828-1914) was an American college professor from the State of Maine, who volunteered during the American Civil War to join the Union Army. Although having no earlier education in military strategies, he became a highly respected and decorated Union officer, reaching the rank of brigadier general (and brevet major general). For his gallantry at Gettysburg, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. He was given the honor of commanding the Union troops at the surrender ceremony for the infantry of Robert E. Lee's Army at Appomattox, Virginia. After the war, he entered politics as a Republican and served four terms of office as Governor of Maine. He served on the faculty of, and as president of, his alma mater, Bowdoin College. Fantastic correspondance archive of twenty (20) letters penned by Alexander Webb to Joshua Chamberlain, dated between 1899 and 1907, and includes a fine check signed by Chamberlain, dated 1883. The letters by Webb are mostly 1p. octavo, most are signed either “Webb” or “Andy Webb” ; a few on ‘Office of Commander-General’ lettersheet. The content in brief, reads “How much of Porters misfortune can I leave out? I cannot be expected to make a defence...What can you say in regard to the devotion of the Fifth Corps during the years of 63-64-65? Did any in that Corps blame him?...Should not my reference to his misfortune be limited?”; “I have pages to insert in the address I sent to you - Two orders I must add and a few paragraphs showing Jacksons movements of his divisions from Manassas Junction to the old RR cut & Sudley Springs. Now that the time is advanced to August 15 or 20. I will review & consolidate & change the style of the last Battle (2d Bull Run). I will add Antietam. Also one page to preface ‘Porters Character of Personality.’...”; “And you have been sick and I bothered you. I am sorry to know that old wounds trouble a glorious old soldier and I am grieved to think that I will nto meet him soon looking as kindly and of asa decided expression of mental strength and decision as I have always found ‘Old Josh.’...”; “I saw Mr. Wanwood...The statue to Genl. Porter is in the square near his house. He took the oat sack off the head and tied a small American flag over the head & neck. I said some months ago that they would not inaugurate that statue before election. I do not care a pin for the reason given....”; “Put in Bill for your retirement as Maj. Genl or Brig. Genl. as the case may be under the decision of Hawley when after better opposition he took the ground that nothing would pass calling for larger detered pay that that of the rank in the U.S. Army at the time of leaving service...shake them up by sending a certificate of your suffeirng from wounds...”; “I have a list of those Genl. Raum expects to retire. Well it is long past, but taht list includes some not often impressed with the feeling that to be a useful commanding officer is was at times necessary to meet the Rebels...”; “I woud not consider the proposition until ‘Old Josh’ was to be included & satisfied...Your reply is perfect but if you dod find time will you amend & return that ‘suggestion’ I was twice wounded as a General in command of troops between July 1st 1863 and May 12th 1864, so I was out by the suggestion...”; “I want to build Porter up before I come to his triumph & his fall. After Longstreet account of Lee’s (S.D. Lee) Batteries in action on Porters left, I have to insert the account of a hundred private soldier who lay with 1800 wounded men on the slope after Porter withdrew. Who saw the 400 dead from teh 5th Corps. Who tells of the howitzers & Infty in the rail road.. .Who tells of the three charges...All of the action all of the indirect proof that Pope was a liar & incompetent is to come in yet, proof without abuse...Would you put in McClellans order to spike the guns after victory at Malvern...”; “...Will the Maine Regts who received from Lincoln the Medal of Honor for stopping in Washington on their way and cover up the issue to Clerks conscripts [?] stay at home &c. & ask for the new medal? ‘Valor’ for some good - for the most a fraud...”; “My heart goes out to a husband who has to bear with his own sufferings, the distressful condition of his wife’s health...But you are a man - in every sense of the word, a manly man; and you will bear it all as Chamberlain can bear it...The treatment of the Porter statue by Portsmouth is simply - well - unspeakable...” More. All VG to Fine. An outstanding collection of letters.
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