Lot 245

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Lot 245
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J.E.B. Stuart ALS Dated Two Months Before his Death
J.E.B. Stuart ALS Dated Two Months Before his Death
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Description:

J.E.B. Stuart ALS Dated Two Months Before his Death

This stunning set includes a lengthy ALS on laid paper with Head Quarters Cavalry Corps, Army of Virginia letterhead, 8" x 9.75". Encased in a protective plastic sleeve. Dated "Feb'y 12th, 1864", and signed by James Ewell Brown as "J.E.B. Stuart / Major Genl", accompanied by the original handwritten, postmarked envelope, 5.25' x 3". Accompanied by impeccable provenance, having come from the Charles Lownes family by descent.

Stuart wrote:

"My Dear Sir,

Your favor of the 10th inst was received this morning. I am glad to see that you evince such as commendable zeal for active service. You can be of very great service to one without a horse even. and I hope therefor to see you here next week. You may be able to purchase a horse here if not you can get permission to go down later. I have a little business in Richmond in which you can be of great service to me from your extensive acquaintance in the city. I am anxious to buy a home for Mrs. Stuart - (my wife and children) in the city. She is at present on a visit to here brother in law Dr. brewer (on 9th beyond Leigh St. opposite a lamp post) if you will see here, she can describe the kind of place exactly. If the Ritchie cottage were built of brick - it would suit exactly -Will you do me the favor to find out the different places which can be bought likely to suit, the terms - re + confer with her about them. I may be able to come down myself on Tuesday, for a day or two, on this business, but it is doubtful.

Very truly

your friend J.E.B. Stuart

Major Genl

Mr Chas D. Lownes Care of Lancaster + Co".

This scarce, personal letter was written by Stuart only two months before his death at the Battle of Yellow Tavern. In it, J.E.B. Stuart reached out to Charles Lownes requesting his assistance in finding a home in the city for his family. He also commended Charles on his zeal to participate in active service. Formerly, there were two elegant antique framed paintings--including a portrait of Charles Lownes--which came with this lot. Though these are no longer present with this lot, one can see images of them included for reference only.

J.E.B Stuart's legacy as a war veteran today is shrouded in myth, conjecture, and rumor. But perhaps most relevant was the need to find a scapegoat for the disaster at Gettysburg. By the time the guns had scarcely fallen silent at Gettysburg before the questions and recriminations began. Disappointed Southerners refused to believe that the infallible Robert E. Lee could lose a battle, particularly one as vital as Gettysburg. Someone else must be to blame. Even after Lee himself had said (with much reason), “It is all my fault,” supporters inside and outside the Army began looking about for a convenient scapegoat. They quickly found one in the over-sized personality of Major General J.E.B. Stuart, Lee’s flamboyant cavalry chief.

Criticism of Stuart, which began as a murmur among Lee’s personal staff, soon exploded onto the front pages of prominent Southern newspapers, which were read by both private citizens and high-ranking members of the Confederate government. At issue was Stuart’s supposed failure to provide Lee with crucial information about the enemy’s troop movements in the days leading up to Gettysburg. This lack of accurate intelligence, it was said, had caused Lee to blunder into a battle he did not seek, on ground he did not choose. It was all Stuart’s fault, for going off on an ill-advised raid around the Union army when Lee needed him close at hand.

Contrary to popular belief, however, Stuart had followed Lee’s orders strictly, if not perhaps totally, and he was innocent of the harshest accusations made against him. In no way did Stuart’s raid deprive Lee of the cavalry needed to monitor his opponent’s movements, only of the officers skilled enough to do so successfully. How, then, did Stuart become the scapegoat of Gettysburg? Simply put, he was at the end of a long chain of mistakes and misjudgments stretching from the commanding general to a lone scout on horseback. Indeed, there is a certain inevitability to the miscarried raid and its aftermath, an inevitability rooted in the personalities of Lee, Stuart and the many others who contributed, either actively or passively, to the Confederate defeat at Gettysburg. And if Stuart himself was not completely blameless, he had a great deal of company.

The letter, written after the battle at Gettysburg, and in preparation for what would be his final battle at Yellow Tavern. Stuart led his cavalry from Gettysburg to Yellow Tavern and was accompanied by Private Charles D. Lownes, courier from the 4th Virginia, and to whom this letter was addressed just months earlier. Union General Sheridan told Meade that he could finally whip Stuart if given the chance, with a battle plan in place, On May 9, Sheridan and his entire command - at least 10,000 and probably 12,000 horseman left the Federal Army and departed on the ride that would lead to Yellow Tavern. This was to be Sheridan's opportunity to whip J.E.B. as although all the accounts of exactly how J.E.B. died vary, he was mortally wounded in battle.

Provenance: A phenomenal set with impeccable provenance from the Lownes family by descent.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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November 11, 2020 10:30 AM EST
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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000