EUR
CAD
AUD
GBP
MXN
HKD
CNY
MYR
SEK
SGD
CHF
THBRobert E. Lee, ALS, 1855, Regarding Cullum's Register of Graduates
About Seller
6270 Este Ave.
Cincinnati , OH 45232
United States
With offices in Cincinnati, Cleveland and Denver, Cowan’s holds over 40 auctions each year, with annual sales exceeding $16M. We reach buyers around the globe, and take pride in our reputation for integrity, customer service and great results. A full-service house, Cowan’s Auctions specializes in Am...Read more
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Two ways to bid:
- Leave a max absentee bid and the platform will bid on your behalf up to your maximum bid during the live auction.
- Bid live during the auction and your bids will be submitted real-time to the auctioneer.
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $500 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
About Auction
LiveJun 9, 2017 - Jun 10, 2017
Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com
View Full Catalog (392)
- Lot Description
Lee, Robert E. (1807-1870, USMA 1829). ALS, 3pp, approx. 5 x 8 in., September 7, 1855. Jefferson Barracks, MO, addressed to Captain G. W. Cullum (1809-1892, USMA 1833).
True to the early spirit of the academy, both Lee and Cullum were commissioned into the Engineers Corps. Cullum spent some time until 1858 in charge of the fortifications of Fort Sumter, Fort Johnson and Castle Pinckney in Charleston Harbor, and Fort Caswell at Smithville, NC. At about the same time Lee was building the defenses of the Savannah River to protect that important southern port city.
In 1850 Cullum began a project to collect biographies of the first half-century of graduates from the Academy, which had been officially formed in 1802. For easy reference he devised a system to number the graduates based in part on class rank and graduation year. The Cullum numbering system is still used today, with some modifications (now alphabetical by year).
Cullum would certainly have approached Robert E. Lee for any stories he could contribute. Lee served as Superintendent of West Point from 1852 - 1855, a position Cullum would also hold at the end of the Civil War, 1864-1866.
General Cullum would serve the Union Army during the Civil War, initially on General Henry Halleck's staff. Lee, of course, resigned his commission to serve his home state of Virginia, and later the Confederacy. Cullum retired in 1874, and lived long enough to complete 3 volumes of his Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy, 1802-1850.
In this letter Lee begins by telling Cullum that he had earlier sent information for his forthcoming Register. He goes on to say that he had hoped to obtain some information about some residents of St. Louis, but so far had not heard back from them. Lee did, however, have information about one individual: Gen. Hitchcock writes me that his brother Samuel, No. 490, died at sea returning from Europe 1 August 1851.
The rest of the letter concerns military activities in the West. Lee implied to Cullum that he would be moving around for a while and might not be able to collect more information or write to him for a bit, as he was at Jefferson Barracks then headed to Ft. Leavenworth (for a court martial) and back to Jefferson Barracks before marching his unit to northern Texas.Soiling and scattered stains. Burn mark at upper edge on last page. Fold separation repaired with tape prior to current owner purchasing letter.Condition
- Shipping Info
-
SHIPPING. At the request of the buyer, Cowan's will authorize the shipment of purchased items. Shipments usually occur within two weeks after payment has been received. Shipment is generally made via UPS Ground service. Unless buyer gives special instructions, the shipping method shall be at the sole discretion of Cowan's Auctions, Inc.. Cowan's is in no way responsible for the acts or omissions of independent handlers, packers or shippers of purchased items or for any loss, damage or delay from the packing or shipping of any property.
-
- Buyer's Premium
