Archive of 5 Letters and Documents with signatures / autographs of Confederate Generals Alexander P. Stewart, Joseph Wheeler, and William Bate (all post-war), related to John Berrien Lindsley, prominent Nashville Tennessee author and educator. 1st item: Autographed letter, signed, former Confederate General Alexander Peter Stewart to Lindsley on lined paper, dated Aug. 24, 1886, Oxford Mississippi (Stewart, born in Rogersville, Tenn., went on to serve as Chancellor of the University of Mississippi). Stewart writes "Send the book here, unless I notify you to contrary before it is ready. Cowper wrote 'but War's a game which, were their subjects wise, kings would not play at.' In imitation, the first sentence of my paper is 'War is a fearful game for kings or peoples to play at'. It needs the preposition at the end. In this country it is not kings but the people who 'play at' war. I trust the finanical results will fully meet your expectations. I do not know where I shall go, yet, now how employ myself. Think I have served my time in schools." (Stewart fought in all the major battles of the Army of Tennessee: Shiloh, Perryville, Stones River, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, the Atlanta Campaign, Franklin, Nashville, and the Carolina Campaign. Stewart left the University of Mississippi in 1886; that same year, Lindsley's book, "The Military Annals of Tennessee," was published). One sheet, front and back. 2nd item: ALS, former Confederate General Joseph Wheeler to John Berrien Lindsley on lined and embossed paper, dated June 11, 1884, Wheeler, Alabama, regarding Lindsley's request for "a condensed statement of the table of battle, or skirmishes" related to his upcoming book. Wheeler asks for clarification and agrees to "furnish you the rosters of several regiments." There is also mention of the cost of large vs. small engravings and a small newpaper clipping about Wheeler. Two pages. 3rd item: Document signed, former Confederate General Joseph Wheeler to General William Bate, dated October 14, 1898, "Dear General, It will give me great pleasure to do anything requested by you and I have a high appreciation for the Lindsley family. Since you wrote the letter I have been relieved from duty at Montauk Point and am now on duty at Huntsville. Anything I can consistently do for Mr. Lindsley will be gladly done." Typewritten with hand signature. En verso is a handwritten note, signed by Bate, "Dear Mrs. Lindsley, I here send you the reply of Gen. Wheeler to my letter sent to him at your request. Very resp. Wm. B. Bate." 4th item: DS, former Confederate General William Bate, to John Berrien Lindsley, on United States Senate letterhead, dated March 2, 1896. Typewritten with ink signature, regarding forthcoming publication of the book Presidential Messages and a promise to have it sent to Lindsley when issued. 5th item: 1885 Promissory note signed by both John Berrien Lindsley and Gen. William Bate. The note is also signed by J. Mac Lindsley, promising to repay Bate $100 with interest, two months after Aug. 18, 1885, at First National Bank, John Berrien Lindsley as co-signer. Vignette of stag at left. Bate's signature also appears on back. 3 1/2" x 8". Provenance: formerly from the collection of Miss Margaret Lindsley Warden of Nashville, Tennessee. (Higher-resolution photos are available at www.caseantiques.com)
Condition
1st item: Stewart letter has spotty fading, including on his signature. Retains envelope. 2nd item: Wheeler clipping has left two spots of acid burn, each 4 1/2" x 2" on page 1. Wheeler's signature is in very good condition. Retains U.S. Senate envelope (separations at fold lines on envelope). 3rd item: Fold across Wheeler's signature. Bate's signature very good. Retains U.S. Senate envelope, intact. 4th item: Very good condition but with fold line across Bate's signature, retains envelope. 5th item: Toning to promissary note, darker at edges, and edge losses.