Lot 1152

WALTER H. STEVENS ON FREEDMEN WORKING ON PETERSBURG FORTIFICATIONS

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WALTER H. STEVENS ON FREEDMEN WORKING ON PETERSBURG FORTIFICATIONS

Estimate: $400 - $600

Starting Bid: $200

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by Alexander Historical Auctions LLC
July 31, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
106 East Main Street, Suite 103
Elkton, MD, US 21921

WALTER H. STEVENS ON FREEDMEN WORKING ON PETERSBURG FORTIFICATIONS
WALTER H. STEVENS (1827 - 1867) Confederate brigadier general, served as engineer to Beauregard at the Battle of First Bull Run and under Johnston during the Peninsula Campaign and the Battle of Seven Pines. He served as chief engineer in the Army of Northern Virginia and was with it through the Siege of Petersburg, strengthening the defenses of that city, and the Appomattox Campaign. Fine pair of A.E.S.'s on a very interesting war-date letter on rough brown ‘hardship' paper, 1p. oblong 8vo., Richmond, Aug. 1, 1864, from J. B. Strong, agent for the James River Canal Packet Co., to Gen. Robert E. Lee, in full: ‘By authority of the Governor of Virginia, Wm. Scott a free man of color and a blacksmith by trade was taken up and sent to work on the fortifications near Petersburg Va, the said William Scott has been shoeing the horses and doing other smiths work for the James River Canal Packet Co. for many years and it is very difficult to get a good blacksmith to do the work there are many other persons also dependent on him for similar work, he being quite an old man cannot do much work on the fortifications, I respectfully ask that he may be allowed to return to his shop.' The verso of the letter bears four endorsements in response to the request, the first an A.E.S. by Lee's aide-de-camp, Col. WALTER H. TAYLOR (1838-1916) and dated Aug. 2, forwarding the request to Stevens and asking if the man can be released from duty. Stevens executes his first A.E.S. below, requesting that a Lt. W. A. Bolling report upon the man's physical condition, signing ‘W. H. Stevens Chief Engr' in black ink. Bolling in turn dutifully reports back to Stevens at right in pencil: ‘...The within described man is Sam Scott. He is about fifty years old, and has been regularly at work doing light duty.' Stevens in turn executes his second A.E.S. at bottom center: ‘Hd. Qurs. Eng Dep… Augt. 6. 64… I cannot spare the man named.', and signs again in the same manner described above. Shows original mailing folds, with a few ink spots and minor additiona soling, and slightly ragged at the edges, otherwise in very good conditon overall.

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