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STONEWALL  JACKSON
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A SCARCE STONEWALL JACKSON SIGNED WAR-DATED HANDWRITTEN ENDORSEMENT MENTIONING GENERAL JOSEPH JOHNSTON

 

THOMAS J. “STONEWALL” JACKSON (1824-1863).  A brilliant Confederate general, Jackson graduated from West Point and served in the Mexican War.  He taught at the Virginia Military Institute, then joined the Confederacy when the Civil War broke out.  He fought at both Bull Runs, Antietam and Fredericksburg, and devised the Shenandoah Valley campaigns.  He was accidentally shot by his own troops after his brilliant victory at Chancellorsville.

 

Autograph Endorsement Signed. 3pg. 7 ½” x 9 ¼”. August 12, 1861. Headquarters.  An autograph endorsement signed T.J. Jackson on the address panel of a letter written to him.  The famous general penned “Hd. Qrs. 1st Brigade Aug 12 1861. He can not be released unless the order comes through General Johnston T.J. Jackson Brig Genl PACS Comg 1st Brigd”.  The letter sent to Jackson was written by Colonel Kenton Harper, the commanding officer of the Fifth Virginia Infantry.  It is two pages in length and dated from “Camp near Centreville” on August 12, 1861.  Harper wrote to Jackson: “The enclosed requisition has been made upon me by Lieut Col Clarke, long at Staunton, through Lt. Lilley, now here, for the surrender of Private John N Harris, a recent recruit of Capt. Antrim's Company, regularly received and announced in orders…There is no evidence furnished me either by the paper or by the officer who brought it, of the grounds of this claim. Private Harris alleges that he was never with the [claiming] Company, that he never even consented to join it, and that he does not know its officers by sight...Sergt. Guthrie, of Capt. Antrim's Co. says he found him encamped with the militia...and he (Harris) agreed to volunteer, and that he found him in the same place...when he went back for him several days afterwards to bring him on to the Company. The inference is just, therefore, that there is some mistake in the case, and I feel unwilling to surrender him as a deserter. Both the soldier and the Sergeant stress their willingness to verify their statements under oath. As it is a case of novelty to me, I would be obliged to you for your opinion...”.  A month later, Harper resigned when Jackson would not allow him to go home to be with his seriously ill wife.  The Johnston mentioned in the Jackson note is General Joseph Johnston, and PACS stands for “Provisional Army of the Confederates States”.  The letter is on period blue paper, it has folds and is in fine condition with light wear.