Jefferson Davis ALS, March 1857

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• Lot Description

  Davis, Jefferson (1808-1889; CSA President 1861-1865). ALS, 2pp. Washington (DC), March 13, 1857. Letter of introduction for A.H. Campbell, civil engineer. Campbell had helped Lieutenant Parke in surveying the country for a route for the road from El Paso to Fort Yuma to run, and was now interested in supervising the construction of it. Davis had just left the position of Secretary of War with the inauguration of James Buchanan, and re-entered the Senate. In the role of Secretary of War he had ordered surveys to determine possible routes for the Transcontinental Railroad, and may have encountered Mr. Campbell in that context. David also saw that the armed forces needed to be enlarged, but salaries had not increased in nearly three decades. He successfully petitioned Congress to raise the pay of military officers so he could build the forces, first enticing men to become long-term officers. That well-built army would eventually devastate Davis' southern home.

  Confederate Map Maker Albert Henry Campbell Collection

  Lots 32-35

  Albert Henry Campbell (1826 – 1899) was born in Charleston, WV where he lived until he entered Brown University, Providence, RI in 1844. In Providence, he also met and married Mary Paine Stebbins in 1847. He studied civil engineering and was engaged in surveys for a number of railroads west. In 1857 he was appointed General Superintendent in charge of constructing wagon roads from Fort Kearny to the South Pass of the Rocky Mountains to the Eastern portion of California, and the road from Ft. Ridgely in Minnesota to South Pass.

  Campbell produced (among many other items) the wood engravings in the 32nd and 35th Parallel volumes (New Mexico and California) of the Pacific Railroad Reports. In his capacity as superintendent, he was supervisor to Frederick Lander when Lander mounted his expedition to capture the West in art. And while Campbell was an amateur artist in his own right, he did not accompany Lander on this expedition, but his brother, James, would go as a guide. 
  
  When the Civil War erupted, Campbell cast his lot with the Confederacy. He secured an appointment as Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers, and was later promoted to Captain, then Major. He eventually would head the Topographical Department of the Army of Northern Virginia, and spent many hours with General R.E. Lee (who was himself a more than adequate topographer), becoming a personal friend of the General. He was with Lee the entire day during which he surrendered the ANV at Appomattox Court House, and broke the first twig from the legendary apple tree (See Lot 35) under which Lee rested before the signing of the surrender.
  
  During the war, Campbell was initially appointed Clerk in the CSA Post Office on May 15, 1861. In June 1862 he was promoted to Captain of Engineers and appointed Chief of the Topographic Department. In September 1862 Campbell was appointed assistant to Lt. Colonel W.H. Stevens, Corps of Engineers, CSA and promoted to Major a month later. 
  
  After the war, with a bit of hesitation (this was "enemy" territory now), he returned to Providence, RI and took up newspaper work for a short time. His father had founded the first newspaper in the Kanawha Valley, so it was not an unfamiliar endeavor. He then returned to Charleston and became an assistant engineer in surveying a number of rail lines, and was eventually promoted to Chief Engineer. He headed the surveys for the Potomac and Ohio line and the Baltimore, Cincinnati & Western Railroad, plus many other lines. He died at home in 1899.

  Provenance: Descended in the Family of Confederate Mapmaker Albert Campbell

  Condition

  Short margin tear (just over half an inch) on right edge. It runs through text, but does not affect readability.

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