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THBTwo War-Date Letters from First Lieutenant George Finley, One with Signature of CSA General Lewis Armistead
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About Auction
LiveOct 31, 2018
Cowan's is honored to present the Magnificent Sword Collection of William Koch in its two-day firearms, militaria, and American history auction. Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com
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- Lot Description
Two War-Date Letters from First Lieutenant George Finley, One with Signature of CSA General Lewis Armistead
Lot of 2 letters written by George Williamson Finley (ca 1839-1909), of Clarksville, VA, including a personal letter to his wife and a letter requesting a leave of absence, signed by General Lewis Armistead on verso, both dated August of 1862.
ALS, 1p with subsequent correspondence notation on verso, 7.5 x 9.75 in., " Head Quarters, 14th Regt, Camp at Osborne [?]." August 5, 1862. Addressed to Captain J.D. Darden, A.A.G. Here, Finley writes to " respectfully ask leave to go to Charlotte, Va. to visit. . . family " for three days. His request is " approved and respectfully forwarded " with the signature of " L.A. Armistead, Br. Genl ." Lewis Armistead (1817-1863) was a career United States Army officer, remembered as the leader of Pickett's Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg, where he was mortally wounded. Finley's request was ultimately denied, however, by General Daniel Harvey Hill, who wrote " Disapproved, D.H. Hill " at the very bottom of the document.
ALS, 2pp, 7.5 x 9.5 in., " Camp near Falling Creek ." August 9, 1862. Addressed to Mrs. G.W. Finley, his " darling wife. " Writing a few days later, Finley enclosed his rejected appeal for leave, apologizing for his inability to get away but assuring her that " never mind, I shall try again. " He seems to grow increasingly discouraged by the end of the letter, however, writing: " I am low-spirited. . . darling, I can't write this morning. I expected to have seen you before many hours, but alas! alas! Major Genl. D.H. Hill was in the way. "
Finley attended Washington and Lee University and worked as a bank manager upon his graduation in 1858. He enlisted on May 12, 1861 as a captain and was commissioned into Company E, 14th Virginia Infantry. He was absent because of an illness for much of that fall and resigned his commission the following year on November 5, 1862. On April 15, 1863 he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant and commissioned into Company K of the 56th Virginia Infantry and was captured at Gettysburg a few months later. After enduring confinement at Fort Delaware, Johnson's Island, Point Lookout, and Hilton Head, Finley took the Oath of Allegiance and was released on May 14, 1865. During his imprisonment, Finley sought refuge in Christianity and decided to become a minister. After the war, he entered the Union Theological Seminary and became a pastor in Augusta County, VA.Creasing as expected. Fading to ink on letter to Finley's wife.Condition
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