Lot 1112

RICHARD CHANNING PRICE

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RICHARD CHANNING PRICE

Estimate: $600 - $800

Current Bid: $300

(1 Bid)

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

RICHARD CHANNING PRICE
(1843-1863) Confederate major, aide-de-camp and adjutant to J.E.B. Stuart, and Assistant Adjutant General of the Cavalry Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. Mortally wounded during the first day of the battle of Chancellorsville while at Stuart's side during a duel with Union artillery. Exceedingly rare, very fine content war-date A.L.S., 4pp. legal folio, [n.p., ‘Hd. Qrs. Cavalry Division Army of Nor[thern] Virginia'], March 15, 1863, days after his promotion and less than two months before his death, to his sister. The letter perfectly demonstrates the kind of devotion that Stuart evoked in his men, in large part: ‘...We have been having a very dull time lately, as indeed I always do when the General [Stuart] is absent, he seeming to take all the life from Hd Qrs. when he goes. I am at a loss to know what has become of him, as I have been expecting him every day since Thursday, when he said he would be back. During his absences I have had entire control of the business of the Division, endorsing & forwarding such papers as he would approve were he here & reserving others for his return. But for having something to employ me for a good part of the day, I don't know what I would have done for the last week, as it has been about as dull as I ever saw it; several times just before night [Maj. Heros] Von Borcke [Capt. Chiswell] Dabney & I would start a boy to Hamilton's Xing with a good supply of money & he would bring back apples & peanuts, with which we endeavored to spend the evening sociably… I have heard not a word about my Commission as Major since the Genl went to Richmond, except what was in Mama's letter which I got Friday: she did not mention my letter which I sent by Genl Stuart; did she receive it or did he forget it? I think I shall like the place of Adjutant very well, as it gives me some regular defined duties, and I think my short experience in life has taught me that I am much happier when having something to do regularly. Perhaps however I may change my views when it is too late to do much good. My only objection was what Mama expressed in her letter, that I would not be so much with the General as when Aide-de-Camp & a sort of Military Secretary, and consequently not as happy, but if he says I will be with him as much as ever, then I am perfectly satisfied. But if, when he is getting ready for a big ‘Raid', he says to me, as I have heard him to Major Fitz Hugh [Lee], ‘you will stay here of course', I am afraid I will wish often in his absence that I was back again at his side as Lieutenant & A D C. However I will hope and believe that it is all for the best & feel thankful at having such a friend as Genl J E B Stuart & endeavor to deserve more than ever the good opinion which I am proud to think he thus far entertains of me… A courier has also just arrived with a short note to me from the General amongst the papers from Culpeper C[ourt] [House] (written however day before yesterday): he writes to me to send him all papers requiring his own action and private letters, and to communicate to him freely what has transpired during his absence: he does not say when he will be back…' Price continues, giving a good snapshot of the progress of the war and his own sentiments and preoccupations: ‘...I sent an application over to Genl Lee's this morning for 30 days furlough to one of our couriers & it was sent back endorsed ‘no leaves are granted to extend beyond April 1st'. It is getting time I think to begin to recall & collect our scattered troops, to be in readiness for ‘Fighting Joe Hooker' in the approaching Campaign. Oh may it be more successful than the last if that is possible & wind up this terrible war. I had 4 deserters from the Yankee Army brought here this morning from Gen. W[illiam] H[enry] F[itzhugh] Lee's Hd. Qrs.: they did not seem to know or care to tell anything of the condition of affairs across the Rappahannock… The jacket Mama sent me is very pretty & I like the color of the cloth better than the Government Goods, but Doherty did not make it as large as I directed him to do: I wanted it loose something like the General wears his… Tell Mama to hold on to the Stars until I want them, altho I don't expect to be guilty of the extravagance of a new coat soon, even if I am Major, having something more necessary to invest Money in – horses…' He signs ‘R. Channing Price' in black ink at the conclusion. Much more good personal and camp life content besides. Shows original mailing folds with very slight splits thereto at the junctures, very faintly toned at the top edge, otherwise in fine overall condition. Two days after this letter was written, Stuart would fight an inconclusive cavalry action against Union Gen. William Averell at Kelly's Ford, losing his close friend and artillery chief, Maj. John Pelham.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000