Lot 131

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Description:

U. S. Grant to Lincoln, Vouching for a Crook and Fraudster, Clerical Copy from Vicksburg, Unique

Grant to Lincoln, Vouching for a Crook and Fraudster, Clerical Copy from Vicksburg. Original letters of Grant to Lincoln in private hands are unknown to us making this a unique item! We found one currently in the Library of Congress

2pp, measuring 7.25" x 9.75", Headquarters of the Department of Tennessee, Before Vicksburg, dated February 8, 1863. A clerical copy, written in an unknown hand, of correspondence between General Ulysses S. Grant and President Lincoln. Grant puts forward a testimonial in favor of the promotion of a Captain R.B. Hatch and argues against those who tried to tarnish Hatch's character by claiming corruption. It reads in part:

"…This I regard as a simple act of Justice to Capt Hatch. He offered his services to his country early in this war and was placed from the start in one of the most trying positions in the army at Cairo [Illinois] with all about him green in the new duties…Capt Hatch had to organize his department and run the machinery of [illegible] for many months without a dollar of funds…I regard it as a proactive act of duty to him to give this testimonial of my conviction of the injustice that has been done him in the past and of his worthiness of a reward which I believe to be due him…" The letter is accompanied by a small slip, identifying the copy as "Gen. Grant. Feb 8, 1863, praising to Mr. Lincoln, R.B. Hatch." Both have flattened folds, uneven toning, and spots of soiling. Areas of ink stains from dampstaining. Chipped edges, with the left edge having been repaired and stabilized with archival paper; the chipping has resulted in some loss of text. Separations starting at the fold edges.

At this point in the war, Grant had set his sights on Vicksburg, Mississippi, a Confederate stronghold. Just a few days prior, Grant had started his attempt to build a canal around to the rear of Vicksburg, using the Yazoo River. By doing this, Grant hoped to avoid the Confederate artillery and be able to cross to Vicksburg unopposed. Unfortunately, the Federal expedition which began on February 3, wasn't able to launch its attack until March 11 and the Confederate forces were able to fortify their position. The attempted attacks were eventually called off by early April. Despite this failure, Grant was successful in his siege of Vicksburg and gained control of the city, and thus the Mississippi River, in early June 1863. This Union victory was a major turning point in the war, and Grant's Vicksburg campaign has since been studied in military institutions for its masterful operations.

Captain Reuben B. Hatch (1819-1871) had previously served as an assistant quartermaster at Cairo and was arrested for taking bribes when purchasing military supplies. As Grant mentions in his letter, Hatch was acquitted of any guilt. However, Hatch would later be charged with fraud, acting in his capacity as paymaster in Grant's own army. These charges too were dropped, however, and Hatch eventually rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. In a cruel twist of irony, a military commission investigated Hatch in 1865 and found him "totally unfit" for his position as assistant quartermaster-general, and yet Hatch was still made chief quartermaster of the Department of the Mississippi just ten days later. Hatch has also been blamed for the Sultana steamboat disaster, which had been allowed to be filled to several times past it's advised capacity. The vessel's boiler exploded, and nearly 1,700 men died in the disaster, but Hatch's incompetence was never brought to justice. It no doubt helped that Hatch's brother, Ozias M. Hatch, was the Illinois Secretary of State and had close connections to Lincoln himself. Hatch died in 1871, never facing any legal action, having been backed by his powerful brother and two presidents.

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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