Raynors 2020-05 Putnal
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/30/2020
Manuscript Document Signed, "Coleman" 1p. octavo, Memphis, October 14, 1861, being a telegram sent to General Pillow and reads "The Preble or Vincennes was sunk. Two other steamers were run on the bar. The rest of the Federal fleet retired. One prized vessel loaded. No lives lost on our side. No injury sustained except a little derangement in the Manassas machinery caused by consequence on running into the Federal steamer…" Fine. Most likely the author of this telegram was Captain Henry B. Shaw, who used the pseudonym 'Coleman', and commanded an elite group of guides and scouts known as Coleman's Scouts. They had an extensive spy network in Tennessee and worked very closely with General Braxton Bragg when he had command of the Army of Tennessee. The most famous man to come out of Coleman's Scouts was Sam Davis, the 21 year old hero of the Confederacy, who was hung as a spy on November 27, 1863, rather than give up the name of his leader, Coleman, or the other men in Coleman's Scouts. Davis was later awarded the Confederate Medal of Honor for his bravery.
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