2008-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2008
George McClellan DERBY (1856-1948) Educated privately in Paris, Dresden, and Switzerland, he graduated from West Point in 1878 and joined the Corps of Engineers. Before his retirement in 1907, he was promoted to colonel. During the Spanish American War, Derby was the chief engineer of Fifth Corps at Santiago de Cuba and later chief engineer of Second Corps. With Fifth Corps, Derby and a picked group of associates daily scouted between Daiquirf and Santiago for General William R. Shafter. Derby’s group created the first detailed topographic maps of the Santiago area, identified Spanish positions, and located a tactically significant mountail trail of which the Spanish were ignorant. His reconnaisance was excellent. Derby also utilized balloon ascents for tactical intelligence. Although much information was obtained, the balloon caused serious casualties, inasmuch as the Spanish used it as a firing marker. He was on many New Orleans city commissions, President of LA SPCC, Director of New Orleans charities, Home for Homeless Men, and the New Orleans Round Table. This extensive archive consists of two-hundred and eighty (280) letters from his family to him, many while he was residing in New Orleans....plus; Thirty (30) letters to him about explosives and engineering...plus; Nine (9) letters by himi to his family, including six (6) while at West Point...plus; One hundred (100) letters, many lengthy, written by Clarence F. Low of New Orleans, head of an insurance company in New Orleans, 1905-1907. Most are VG or better, a nice archive of this famous Army engineer.
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