7 items.
War-date letters and post-war CDV of William Miller Owen, last Civil War commander of the famed Washington Artillery of the Army of Northern Virginia. Owen was a personal friend of Generals James Longstreet and Robert E. Lee, as well as Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his wife Varina.
Included in this archive is a war-date letter addressed to Varina Davis and docketed in her hand; an account of fighting black troops at the Battle of the Crater; the original cover letter that accompanied the safe conduct passes for Owen’s men upon their surrender with Lee at Appomattox Court House; and a post-war CDV of Owen in civilian clothing, taken at the W.W. Washburn studios in New Orleans
William M. Owen (1834-1893) was a 26 year-old New Orleans socialite and cotton broker when he enlisted as a private in the Washington Artillery on December 6, 1860. His performance during the seizure of the Federal Arsenal at Baton Rouge on January 10, 1861, led the regiment’s commander, Major James B. Walton, to promote Owen to 1st Lieutenant and adjutant. The Washington Artillery took part in the battle of First Manassas, where Longstreet mentioned Owen for his service on an artillery battery on Henry House Hill, between Jackson and Bee. When Walton was promoted to Colonel and Chief of Artillery for the 1st (Longstreet’s) Corp of the Army of Northern Virginia, he promoted Owen to Captain and adjutant of 1st Corps Artillery. He participated in every campaign of the Army of Northern Virginia through Gettysburg. Owen was commended for his actions in rallying Jubal Early’s shattered right wing at the Second Battle of Fredricksburg during the Chancellorsville campaign.
The first letter in this archive is from Owen to Confederate First Lady Varina Davis. Dated June 8, 1863, near Culpepper C.H., as the Army of Northern Virginia prepared to embark on the Gettysburg campaign. 1st Lt. Owen had been serving for nearly two years as adjutant to Chief of Artillery, 1st (Longstreet’s) Corps, a position usually filled by a major. His boss, Col. Walton, had recommended him for promotion to major, but the application had been held up, despite endorsements by Longstreet and Lee. In the letter, Owen tells Mrs. Davis if only she would stretch forth your saving hand to save his promotion from limbo, I am sure of the “single star”. Am I asking too much? He then asks a further favor, of getting back into an artillery command: And bye the bye, speaking of stars, don’t you think that gold on red is much prettier than on yellow?
Varina Davis docketed the letter on reverse: Lt W. M. Owen / Wants promotion / I got Gen’l Preston to apply for him as chief of artillery, and he was made major.
Head Qtr Batt: Washington Artillery
Near Petersburg, July 14, 1864
To President Davis’ ADC Col. William Preston Johnston, describing the dullest time imaginable here, pounding away at each other, morning & evening. Grant is expounding the “law of nations” upon the innocent bricks & mortar of Petersburg… We trust Early will apply the same dose to the good people of Washington.
August 1, 1864 (day after The Crater)
Special Orders, No. 24:
Major W.M. Owen, having reported to these head-quarters for duty, by order from
Head-quarters Army Northern Virginia, is hereby assigned to the command of Major
Gibbe’s battalion artillery.
By command of Lieut-Col. Frank Huger,
J.C. Haskell, AAG.
Petersburg 8 Aug ’64 (again to Col. Johnston)
Describing his being wounded in action, I am for the present “hors d’combat” having rec’d a token from a Yankee sharpshooter on the 3rd inst. in the shape of an ounce ball in my right cheek. He was kind enough to spare my nose which he only scraped… Maj. Gibbes cmdg King’s old Batt. Arty was wounded on the 30th – the “big day” & I was assigned by Gen’l Lee to the command on the 1st. Grant has been very quiet since the 30th, except when Gracie stirred him up on Thursday last with that counter-mine.
Describing black Union soldiers: Are we not going to “carry the war into Africa’? You would have supposed so if you had seen the “Ebonies” on the 30th. There was many a red bayonet on that day.
Cover for Appomattox safe conduct passes
Col:/ I send up a sufficient number of passes for your command, including 13 Va. Batt., Washington Arty, and Donaldsonville Arty. You must sign for all except your own which will be signed by Gen’l Alexander./ There is a difference in the forms but they are all the same. One is to be given to each man – no duplicates are to be made. Send back any blanks you don’t use, as we are very short./ Your respt./ JC Haskell/ AAG/ Lt Col Owen Cmdg Batt.
Docketed JC Haskell / Capt & AAG / Arty 1at Army Corps / Appomattox CH / Apl 10 1865. Transcription (and Owen’s own biography substitute “paroles” for “passes.”)