Jun 21, 2018 - Sale 2483

Sale 2483 - Lot 112

Price Realized: $ 1,750
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 2,500 - $ 3,500
"DISHEARTENED AT THE WEAK AND IMBECILE WAY IN WHICH THE WAR IS MANAGED" GARFIELD, JAMES A. Autograph Letter Signed, "J.A.Garfield," as Brigadier General, to Col. Lionel Allen Sheldon ("My dear Sheldon"), discussing details of the Cumberland Gap Campaign, mentioning plans to turn Florida into a free loyal state, describing the disheartening general mood, criticizing Generals Halleck, McClellan, and Buell, complaining of the Republican defeat in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana, and hoping that the war would end before the next Congress meets. With a postscript, written vertically on the first page, requesting that Rollins be sent to him at Wooster Ohio, additionally signed, "J.A.G." 4 pages, 4to, written on a single folded sheet; short closed separations at folds, minor scattered soiling. Washington, 25 October 1862
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"It has been a long time since I have heard from you, or from any of the 42nd directly. . . . I knew of course it was useless to write you till you were out of the clutches of the rebels. . . . It is marvelous to me that anybody should think of putting the blame of that retreat on the shoulders of Gen Morgan's shoulders instead of Gen Buell's. . . . [I]t seems to me that Gen. Buell has a great mistake to answer for in regard to the Cumberland Gap expedition.
"The President and Sec. of War have treated me very kindly, and offered to give me any place I want . . . . They are now talking of sending me to Florida . . . and taking emigrants there to settle on the confiscated plantations and make a free loyal state, a la Kansas. . . .
"Everybody is depressed and disheartened at the weak and imbecile way in which the war is managed. It looks darker than ever before. If this nation goes down in blood and darkness, its epitaph may be written in a very short sentence, 'Died 4 West Point.' Halleck, McClellan, and Buell are the Trinity of Evils which have been cursing us so long. . . . Now after the fearful blunder at Perryville, [Buell] has at cost been set aside. I think McC[lellan] may be removed as soon as the N.Y. elections are over. The terrible defeat of the Republican party in Penn., Ohio, & Ind. are very depressing & ominous. If we had had a vigorous administration this need not have occurred.
"The next congress will doubtless be Locofoco & possibly anti war, but I hope we shall end the war before it meets. . . ."