WADE HAMPTON, JOHN B. GORDON and ALEXANDER HASKELL With the results of the US Presidential election, and also the South Carolina gubernatorial election, undecided, Democrats (and former Confederate generals) Governor-elect Hampton, US Senator Gordon, and campaign manager Haskell write to General Thomas Ruger, commander of US troops in the State, condemning his interference in the meeting of what they consider the lawfully elected legislature. The former secessionists invoke the US Constitution and the bicentennial of American independence in support of their cause! Collection includes: 1) Autograph Letter signed: "Wade Hampton", "J B Gordon", "A. C. Haskell", 4 pages, 8x12½. Columbia, South Carolina, 1876 November 30. To General T. H. Ruger, Commanding US Troops in South Carolina. In full: "We have just heard through Major McGinnis of your staff your orders communicated to Mr. Wallace, Speaker of the House of Representatives, that at 12 o'clock tomorrow no spectators would be allowed in the Hall and that the Members elect from Edgefield County would not be allowed upon the floor. read more...

ROBERT E. LEE and MARY CUSTIS LEE Carte-de-Visite photograph signed by the Lee and his wife, to her cousin Susan P. Meade! Photograph Signed: "R.E. Lee" and inscribed and signed on verso: "Susan P. Meade/from her cousin/Mary Custis Lee". Sepia, 2½x4 overall, image 2¼x3½ (two surfaces). Photographer's imprint at lower border: "Boude & Miley. Lexington, Va." In the early 1850s, photographer Mathew Brady photographed Robert E. Lee in civilian clothes. Artist and engraver A.H. Ritchie reproduced the image and then painted a uniform on Lee showing epaulets and Lee as a Major General in the Virginia Militia. The print was originally issued out of Baltimore and was widely circulated in 1861. The photograph offered here is a vignette view of Lee from the Ritchie engraving. "Vignetting" was a way in which a photography studio would avoid copyright problems for reproducing another's work. Robert Edward Lee (1807-1870), among the most revered military leaders in American history, was the son of Revolutionary War hero and Virginia Governor "Lighthorse Harry" Lee. read more...

JEFFERSON DAVIS, JOHN H. WINDER and THOMAS J. GREEN Davis signs an autograph endorsement forwarding to Confederate Secretary of War Benjamin a handwritten letter from Green, a former general in the army of independent Texas, warning that Confederate soldiers were carrying CSA weapons home with them. General Winder adds a handwritten note to the same document, ordering that guards be posted at depot and they confiscate these weapons. Civil War-date Autograph Endorsement signed: "Sec of War attention./J D", as President of the Confederate States of America in pencil in upper blank margin of letter to him. THOMAS J. GREEN. ALS: "Thos J Green", 1p, 7¼x9¼. Esmeralda near Warrenton North Carolina, 1862 March 17. To "HIS EXCL./JEFFERSON DAVIS/PRES. C.S.A.". In full, original spelling: "I feel it my duty to call your attention to what I believe is highly detrimental to the public service. read more...

JAMES LONGSTREET Items from the general's order book during the Suffolk campaign of May 1863, seeking to locate General Hood and ordering prompt movement of "every serviceable horse in the City of Petersburg". With his corps detached from Lee's army, Longstreet captured vital supplies but missed the Battle of Chancellorsville. Longstreet's conduct in this campaign aroused heated debate after the war. Matted and framed to 9½x15. Autograph Document signed three times: "J Longstreet", 2 pages, 6½x8½. Richmond, Virginia, 1863 May 6. A series of entries from Longstreet's military order book, detailing commands to be sent to subordinates, signed by Longstreet himself. The pages contain three separate communications. In the first, Longstreet asks one of his captains, in part: "What arms and ammunitions do you need? In the second, he inquires about one of his division commanders. In part: "Is Gen. Hood in Petersburg? If he is [illegible] with him at the office of the operator that he may receive there ... read more...

FRANK JAMES Awaiting his second trial in a year, the famous outlaw writes to his wife and son, expressing (well founded) optimism about the outcome. Autograph Letter signed: "Frank James", 2 pages, 8½x14. Hand addressed envelope included (toned and torn from opening). Huntsville, Alabama, 1884 February 29. To "My dear Wife and Rob", in full: "This being my lucky day I will write you a brief. Although the situation has not changed materially since I last wrote you I am feeling real well today, much better than for some time. It may be from the fact I got up much earlier than common. I arose this morning before seven, three hours earlier than I usually get up. I had a long conference with General Walker yesterday and you may hear some good news in the next week. I am spending my time as usual. As Rob would say 'the same old thing' each and every day. Tell Rob I heard someone singing his song this morning, 'Goodbye my love, goodbye'. Who do you think I wrote today I bet you can't guess in twenty guesses. See if you can. I will tell you in the last of this who it was. As yet I have not heard from any of my 'Mo' friends. I guess they are waiting until the weather gets warm. I am going to live on eggs from this on. read more...

FRANK JAMES From Gallatin, Missouri, while awaiting trial for murder and armed robbery, James handwrote this remarkable and very affectionate 20-page letter to his wife, even quoting Shakespeare. This rich content letter includes references to some of James' friends and former partners Ebenezer Magoffin, and Bill and Frank Gregg. Curiously, James signs with the alias he used as an outlaw, "Ben". Autograph Letter signed: "Your true husband/Ben", 20 pages, 5x8. Castle St James [Gallatin, Missouri], July, circa 1883. A loving letter from Frank James to his wife, on his affection for her and recent happenings. In full: "My dear wife: Do you know your letter of last Sunday was the most interesting communication I have had from you since you left me. I think you are awakening to the fact that I love you much more than a "little bit" as you express it. Let me whisper to you right now that I feel a hundred times better since you have written as you have. How kind and good you can be when you want to. I have felt very much like spanking you several times of late, when you would say for instance "I sometimes believe you do love me a little bit". read more...

THE PRESIDENT OF THE CONFEDERACY TRANSMITS A REPORT OF SECRETARY OF WAR JUDAH P. BENJAMIN TO CONGRESS; THE SENATE READS IT IN "SECRET LEGISLATIVE SESSION", WHILE THE HOUSE ORDERS 2,500 COPIES PRINTED AND THE "INJUNCTION OF SECRECY BE REMOVED"   JEFFERSON DAVIS. Important Manuscript LS: "Jefferson Davis" as President of the Confederate States of America, 1p, 8¼x7¼ lined sheet, affixed to cardboard of same size. Executive Department, [Richmond, Virginia],1862 March 19. "To the Senate and House of Representatives." In full: "I herewith transmit a Report of the Secretary of War supplementary to a Report heretofore submitted by him, and referred to in that document." The First Session of the First Congress of the Confederate States of America was held in Richmond, Virginia, from February 18, 1862 to April 23, 1862. This letter appears in the Journal of the Senate of the First Congress of the read more...

GENERAL DANIEL H. HILL Important Civil War-dated letter. Confederate Major General Daniel H. Hill wrote this letter from Goldsboro, North Carolina in 1863 complaining about Brigadier General Joseph Wheeler and his cavalry. Autograph letter signed "DH Hill". 1 page, 7¾x11½, ruled paper. Goldsboro, North Carolina, March 28, 1863. Addressed to Major G. M. Sorrell, Confederate States Army. "The picket line from Mt. Roanoke to Wilmington is about 175 miles being a curved line. I have written to Genl. [Beverly] Robertson to know what is the least force which can cover it. The rest, I will order to Bertie [County, North Carolina]. They will not fight & the only use which can be made of them is as [illegible] and Pickets ... I wrote to the Sec. War in reference to dismantling G. J. Wheeler's bogus Regt. He has but four companies, very worthless & the time allowed him for the completion of his regt 15th March has expired. His Field and Staff have not been commissioned. The govt might buy the horses for the boat train & artillery & put the men in an Infantry Regt. I hope that this matter will be attended to promptly. read more...

FRANK JAMES Awaiting his second trial in a year, the famous outlaw writes a loving letter to his 7 year old son Robert ("My Dear Little Man") Autograph Letter signed: "Your Father/Frank James" in pencil, 1 pages, 5½x8½. No place, 1884 February 29. Written in block letters to "My Dear Little Man", in full: "I want you to hurry up and learn to ride so you can get you a new saddle. I want you to learn to write and write me a letter. Addressed in verso to "Robert F. James/at home". This letter was enclosed with a letter James wrote to his wife Annie. Accompanied by printed chart titled "The Deaf and Dumb Alphabet", showing the appropriate hand signals. Notation in Frank James' hand: "For Rob". FRANK JAMES (1843-1915) and his brother Jesse James fought as Confederate guerrillas in Missouri ("Quantrill's Raiders") during the Civil War. They joined Cole Younger and others in 1866 to form a gang led by Jesse, robbing banks and trains. Frank and Jesse survived and escaped the failed Northfield, Minnesota bank heist of 1876, forming a new gang. read more...