JAMES A. SEDDON - MANUSCRIPT LETTER SIGNED 01/18/1864 - HFSID 79690

JAMES A. SEDDON
Handwritten and signed letter, dated 1864, to a minister offering to help the Confederacy, written on rare Confederate War Department letterhead
Manscript letter signed "James A Seddon" as Confederate Secretary of War. 1 page, 5x7¾, on scarce letterhead imprinted: "Confederate States of America/War Department/Richmond, Va." Jan. 18, 1864. Addressed to Rev. Jas. Miller, Petersburg, Va. In full: "The President has refer-red your letter of the 9th inst. to this Department. The mission of any en-lightened and eloquent divine to Europe, to influence opinion in regard to our cause and insti-tution, may do good, and can hardly prove mischievous. But I should object decidedly to his presenting himself to a foreign public as a petitioner for supplies or aids to our soldiers. That is not necessary and would be humiliating. Your obdt. servt." Representing Virginia, Seddon (1815-1880)served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1845-1847 and 1849-1851. He was a member of the Peace Convention held in Washington, D.C., in February 1861, in an effort to prevent the impending American Civil War. Seddon was a member of the Provisional Confederate Congress (1861-1862) before being appointed Secretary of War by Confederate President Jefferson Davis (1862-1865). After the fall of Richmond, Seddon was arrested on May 23, 1865 and imprisoned with other Confederate officials at Fort Pulaski, near Savannah, Georgia. He was released on November 23, 1865. Lightly toned and spotted. Adhesive residue on back. Small tear on top and left edge. Small crease in lower left corner. Page has been folded in thirds and unfolded. Otherwise in fine condition.