Sep 28, 2023 - Sale 2646

Sale 2646 - Lot 144

Unsold
Estimate: $ 600 - $ 900
(CIVIL WAR--PENNSYLVANIA.) Andrew Gregg Curtin. Pair of telegraph messages to his militia commander, two months before Gettysburg. Manuscript telegraph messages as governor of Pennsylvania, to Pennsylvania militia general Thomas Marshall Howe (1808-1877). 6 and 1 pages, 8 x 5 inches, on loose Pittsburg telegraph letterhead; folds, minor wear and soiling. Harrisburg, PA, 2 May 1863
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These telegraph messages were sent on 2 May 1863 to a militia general in western Pennsylvania, fearful that Stonewall Jackson's Shenandoah Valley campaign might lead to a raid into the state. Although the main armies of both sides were then tied down in distant Chancellorsville, Governor Curtin took these concerns to a distracted President Lincoln, who appeared "annoyed" by them. The fears proved premature, though Morgan's Raiders did tear through Ohio the following month, and of course Lee's main army came through central Pennsylvania to Gettysburg later in June.

The first and longer message begins: "I have a dispatch in the night from the President in which he says the whole disposable force in Baltimore and elsewhere in reach have already been sent after the enemy which alarms you. The President says he will telegraph me in the morning again."

He follows with the text of a 10:55 a.m. telegraph from Lincoln to Governor Curtin. In full: "Gen'l Halleck tells me he has a dispatch from Gen. Schenck this morning informing him that our forces have joined and that the enemy menacing Penna. will have to fight or run today. I hope I am not less anxious to do my duty to Penna. than yourself, but I really do not yet see the justification for incurring the trouble & expense of calling out the militia. I shall keep watch & try to do my duty. Signed, A. Lincoln. P.S. Our forces are exactly between the enemy & Penna."

Curtin continues: "You may rest assured the movements are well understood at Wash. We will hear from Hooker soon & I have no doubt the news will be good. You see the President is alive to his duty and notice that I have annoyed him."

The second and shorter message bears the same date, apparently later in the day: "I notice your suggestions as to increase of the Provost Guard, and will lay it before the Sec'y of War at once. My impressions as to the results of movements east [at Chancellorsville] are so full of hope that a day or two will relieve you all. Just now the War Dep't is very active in that direction."