Sep 30, 2021 - Sale 2580

Sale 2580 - Lot 100

Price Realized: $ 562
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 700 - $ 1,000
(CIVIL WAR--CONFEDERATE.) Pair of documents of Texas officer A.J. Toutant, signed by General Cooper and General Beauregard. 2 items, as described. Various places, 1863-64
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Alcée J. Toutant (1836-1905) settled in San Antonio, TX as a young man, began the Civil War with a Texas regiment, and later became an aide-de-camp to Mansfield Lovell, the disgraced major general who had surrendered Louisiana and spent the rest of the war without a command. He finished the war as aide-de-camp to his famous uncle, General Beauregard--more properly, Pierre Gustave Toutant-Beauregard. Alcée's obituary reported that "Much of the strategy displayed by General Beauregard was the outgrowth of conferences between himself with his nephew."

The earlier of these two documents is Lieutenant Toutant's letter to Confederate General Samuel Cooper (1798-1876), asking whether he was entitled to cavalry pay as an aide-de-camp. Though Cooper played mainly an administrative role as Adjutant and Inspector General, he was technically the top-ranking general in the army, senior to Lee, Beauregard and the rest. Cooper inscribed and signed his response in the docketing on verso: "All aides de camp are entitled to cavalry pay as lieutenants. June 23/63, S Cooper, A & I G." One page, 9 3/4 x 7 3/4 inches, plus integral blank with docketing; minimal wear. Richmond, VA, 23 June 1863.

The other document is a pass issued to Toutant, signed by his famous uncle and commander, reading "Pass Capt. A.J. Toutant A.D.C. on his way to Shreveport & San Antonio & back. G.T. Beauregard, General." Beauregard was at that point in command of defending against Sherman's March to the Sea, which by then had nearly reached Savannah--an odd time to send his aide on leave to Texas. One page, 6 1/4 x 8 inches; separations at folds at margins of signature, skillfully backed with tissue. Montgomery, AL, 2 December 1864.