2023-08 Raynors HCA Live
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/26/2023
The autographs are on two 3" 6" account pages which were removed from a pocket account book. Both sides are signed, total of Eighteen Prisoned Officer's Signatures.First page:B.F. Blair, Lit. 123rd OVI (6/15/1863 Winchester, VA; escaped Columbia, SC)Thomas S. Armstrong, Lieut. 122 Oh Vols (captured 6/15/1863 Winchester, VA. Signed Petition Complaining of Camp Sorghum Conditions and Voted in Presidential Election at Camp Sorghum)N Goff Jr., Maj. 4th WV Cav. (captured 1/30/1863 Medley, VA)Henry W. Sawyer, Capt. NJ 1st Cavalry (captured 6/21/1863 Thoroughfare Gap, VA. One of two Officers selected for retaliatory execution)James Hersh, Lieut. 87th PVI (captured 10/14/1863 Bristoe Station, VA. Paroled 3/14/1864 Libby Prison)Back of first page:John S. Manning, 2nd Lieut., 116th, Ohio Infantry (captured 6/15/1863 Winchester, VA)H.S. Norton, Lt. Pa. 101 Vols (captured 4/20/1864 Plymouth, NC)John S. Francis, Lieut. 18th Reg. Conn Vols (captured 6/15/1863 Winchester, VA )H. M. Anderson, Capt., 3rd Maine Vols (captured 6/20/1863 Gum Springs, VA)Adam H. Lindsay, Lieut. 18th CT. Vols (captured 6/15/1863 Winchester, VA)J.D. Higgins, Lt. 18th Ct Vols (captured 6/15/1863 Winchester, VA) Second page:W. M. Kendall, Capt. 73rd Ind Vols (captured POW 5/3/1863 Rome, GA)John M Flinn, Capt. 51st Ind Vols (captured POW 5/3/1863 Gaylesville, AL. One of two Officers selected for retaliatory execution )Thos. W. Boyce, Lt. 123rd OVI (captured POW 6/15/1863 Winchester, VA )D.G. Shepard, Lt. 5th Ky Cav.Back of second page:Albert Carley, Capt. 73ed Ind. (wounded 4/30/1863 Day's Gap, AL.; POW 4/30/1863 Day's Gap, AL.O.P. Barnes, 1st Lt. 3rd OVI (captured POW 5/3/1863 Rome, GA)J.W. Custer, Lieut. 23rd Regt. Ind Vols (captured POW 6/21/1864 Atlanta, GA) Additionally, there is a hand tinted Harper Weekly centerspread of Libby Prison which HIGHLIGHTS Sawyer and Flynn (sp). And, a 2000 book titled "Civil War Hostages by Webb Garrison. This book dedicates a full chapter to this specific threat of Retaliation Execution.Background: A special order had been issued from the Confederate War Department, directing that two captains should be selected by lot to be executed, in retaliation for the execution of two Confederate officers by General Burnside. This is the way in which Mr. Lincoln solved the perplexing question : General William Henry Fitzhugh Lee was still a prisoner, subject to the commands of the President. If Sawyer and Flinn were to die for no cause, why should not the son of Robert E. Lee die in retaliation? Accordingly, he issued the following order : Washington, July 15th, 1863. Colonel W. H. Ludlow, Agent for the Exchange of Prisoners of War : The President directs that you immediately place General W. H. F. Lee, and another officer selected by you, not below the rank of captain, prisoners of war, in close confinement, and under guard, and that you notify Mr. Robert Ould, Confederate Agent for the Exchange of Prisoners of War, that if Captain H. W. Sawyer and Captain John M.Flinn, or any other officers or men in the service of the United States, not guilty of crimes punishable with death by the laws of war, shall be executed by the enemy, the afore- mentioned persons will be immediately hung in retaliation. It is also ordered that immediately on receiving official or other authoritative information of the execution of Captain Henry W. Sawyer and Captain John M. Flinn, you will proceed to hang General W. H. F. Lee and the ether officer, designated as hereinabove directed, and that you notify Robert Ould, Esq., of said proceeding, and assure him that the Government of the United States will proceed to retaliate for every similar barbarous violation of the laws of civilized war.
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