BRIGADIER GENERAL JAMES CONNER - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 04/09/1860 - HFSID 296727

JAMES CONNER
Handwritten letter as US Attorney for South Carolina, writing to James Simons, Speaker of the State House of Representatives, just one year before both Conner and Simons, became Confederate generals!
Autograph Letter signed: "James Conner", 1 page, 5½x9½. No place, 1860 April 9. To "Hon. Jas. Simons, in full: "You may consider the appeal abandoned. I will file the answer as soon as possible, but I am so pressed at present that I cannot say positively when. I will mark the appeal abandoned. Should I forget it, you can say so on the call. Yours very truly". Docketed on verso.JAMES CONNER (1829-1883) was U.S. Attorney for South Carolina (1856-1860), but attended the secession convention in December 1860, and - declining a civil appointment - became a captain in the Hampton Legion, suffering the first of several wounds at First Manassas (June 1861). Rising to regimental command and the rank of brigadier general, he was wounded again at Mechanicsville, but led the 22nd North Carolina at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Recuperating from his wounds while serving on court martial panels, Conner returned to the fray as a brigade commander, losing a leg at Gaines Mill. From 1876-1877, Conner was Attorney General of South Carolina, helping to elect his former commander, Wade Hampton, as the State's first post-Reconstruction Governor. James Simons (1813-1879) was Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives, and commander of a brigade of state militia. After participating in the assault on Fort Sumter, he was the first person promoted to general grade rank by Confederate President Jefferson. Barred from further command by disagreements with South Carolina Governor Pickens, Simons re-enlisted as a private soldier in the Marion Artillery. Toned and creased. Multiple mailing folds. Edges worn and frayed. Corners creased. Otherwise, fine condition.