University of Virginia Autograph Book, 1854-1855, Signed by Over 40 Confederate Officers, Including Martyred Southern Spy John Yates Beall 

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Jun 12, 2015 - Jun 13, 2015

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• Lot Description
  12mo ledger (approx. 5.5 x 7.5 in.), with gilt front, back and spine. Front with gilt "Autographs." Approx. 280 pp, of which 68 are signed and/or inscribed by 66 classmates, ca 1855. The album belonged to UVA medical student John (Jack) Alexander Straith of Jefferson County, VA, now in West Virginia. Some time after graduation and before his Civil War service, ca 1859 or 1860, Straith made pencil notes at the bottom of several pages, especially concerning the early deaths of six classmates (died between 1855-1859). The lot is accompanied by extensive research files.
   
  Although intended as a souvenir of his years in college, Straith's autograph book became a record of a group of Southern gentlemen coming of age in antebellum Virginia and poised on the threshold of an era that would devastate their state with war and later, Reconstruction. Of the 60 graduates who survived until 1861, at least 44 served in the Confederate forces from nine Southern States: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Texas & Virginia. Three graduates, from Washington, DC, Pennsylvania and Maryland, decided to fight for the Union. Nine of these young men would be killed in action or died of wounds or disease during the war. Among the battlefields where they died were Brandy Station, First Manassas, Sharpsburg, and Shiloh. A number more were captured (at least 4 POWs) and wounded. Several graduates served on the staffs of Generals Stonewall Jackson (Hugh Lee, p. 44), Wade Hampton (Charles Grattan, p. 15) and John B. Gordon (Robert Hunter, p. 57). Many others served as Surgeons, one as Chaplain, plus other Field & Staff positions. General Theodore Brevard (p. 32) was captured at Sailor's Creek (Saylor's, Sayler's) by Custer, just three days before Lee's surrender. Algernon Garnett (p. 22) was on the CSS Virginia (Merrimac) during the famous naval battle at Hampton Roads against the Union Ironclad Monitor. Hilary Herbert (pp. 20-21) went on to become Grover Cleveland's Secretary of the Navy (1893-1897), having served in the US House from 1877 - 1893. During the war he was wounded twice (Seven Pines, Wilderness) and captured (exchanged 8/27/62).W.G. Brawner (p. 45) (d. 1863) CSA, Captain and Commander of the Prince William Partisan Rangers, KIA. 
   
  But perhaps the most famous/infamous of all of the signers was John Yates Beall (pp 6-7). Beall attended UVA for three sessions, graduating with a focus in the law, at his father's insistence. Shortly after leaving school, his father died, and Beall gave up law and became the manager of his parents' farm. He had volunteered for service in the Virginia militia in 1859, after the raid of John Brown into the state. This unit became Company B of the 2nd VA Infantry when war was declared in April 1861. It was one of the earliest units in the field, and assigned to the 1st Brigade under the command of Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. While at home on furlough in October 1861, Beall volunteered to aid Turner Ashby, whose mission was to check the advance of the Federals on Charlestown, which was only partially successful. Beall jumped  to the head of the militia to lead a charge to dislodge troops from a dismantled building on the outskirts of Bolivar. He took a minie ball in the chest. It was a glancing blow that broke three ribs and passed around his rib cage, a wound from which he never fully recovered. He was finally discharged in spring of 1863. However, he was far from finished fighting for Virginia. He conceived of a number of small-scale operations, designed to inflict maximum disruption of enemy actions with minimum Confederate manpower. He was especially focused on maritime resources. He was appointed Acting Master in the Confederate Navy and given permission to recruit a troop of men not subject to conscription, men like himself with limited ability for field service, but still capable of small operations. During summer and fall, he captured a good many small Federal ships, destroyed Cape Charles lighthouse and cut a submarine telegraph cable. He was becoming such a problem that the Union assigned Brig. Gen. Wistar to the peninsula to capture Beall. Wistar had one African American regiment of infantry, two white cavalry, one artillery battalion and 10 gunboats - all to capture about 18 Confederate Marines. But Beall had accomplished his purpose - disrupt Union actions and draw off resources. And Wistar accomplished his - the raiders were all captured and taken to Fort McHenry where Beall was put in irons. The Confederacy retaliated by taking an equal number of Federal prisoners hostage, until Beall was released from manacles and given the status of a POW, not a pirate. Eventually, he and all of his men were exchanged. 
  
  He again approached Secretary Mallory with several more proposals. One was again harassment and capture of Federal ships along the eastern seaboard; another was doing the same with Great Lakes activity on the part of Federal ships, but with the additional goal of releasing prisoners from Johnson's Island; and enlisting Southern refugees in Canada to go to Indian Territory Minnesota, and stirring up trouble among the tribes against the United States. Mallory discouraged the plan to release the prisoners, but prepared an expedition to operate from Canada, including going to Johnson's Island (all without giving Beall credit or the opportunity to join the expedition). 
  
  Beall went to Canada, anyway, and contacted some of the Confederate expatriates there, and began capturing Federal ships. He also took part under Captain Cole on another attack on the Island. However, before getting to that point, 17 of his 20 men mutinied, so he had to abandon his plans, leaving Cole unsupported and subject to capture. Beall escaped detection for a while, with many Confederates engaging in raids in the northern regions and escaping across the border into Canada, placing increasing strain on US-Canadian relationships. Finally, on 16 December 1864 Beall was captured after failed attempts to capture a military train between Buffalo and Dunkirk, New York. 
  
  There followed a long, convoluted series of legal maneuvers, which included denial of counsel for Beall. A couple of his friends came to his defense, especially James McClure (pp 16-17) and Albert Ritchie of Baltimore. Beall was tried as a pirate and spy, and, although he made numerous appeals (here his legal training came in handy) on the grounds that he was a Confederate officer and attacking ships as an act of war, he was convicted and sentenced to hang. Lincoln refused to act on his behalf, allowing the execution to go forward. There were delays, but in the end, John Yates Beall was hanged in New York City on Governor's Island on the 24th of February, 1865. His last words as he stood on the gallows were, "I protest against the execution of this sentence. It is a murder. I die in the service and defense of my country." Lincoln was haunted by the Beall case, and he later stated “There was this case of Beall on the lakes. That was a case where there must be an example.” 
  
  Some have maintained that this act contributed to John Wilkes Booth's plot initially to kidnap, then assassinate, President Lincoln because of his inaction on Beall's behalf. While there is no direct evidence for this, John Surratt was operating out of Canada at this time, and Booth made a few short trips there. It is possible they met, but even if not, certainly Booth was "dialed in" to Canadian activity and would have known of Beall's exploits.
  
  Beall was also likely a long-time friend of the owner of this book, Jack Straith. Both grew up in Jefferson County, VA. Beall's inscription in the book begins: "Coming here friends, and going hence friends,..." Born in Charles Town in 1835, John Alexander Straith would graduate from UVA medical school in 1855. He was appointed Assistant Surgeon of the 2nd VA Infantry in May 1861, and Surgeon of the Stonewall Brigade. By 1863 he was Chief Surgeon of the 2nd Corps Artillery, ANV. During the war he married Jean Charlotte (Lottie) Alexander, but only had a few days leave. Near the end of the war he served on the board that examined medical officers in Jubal Early's command. He surrendered with the rest of the ANV at Appomattox CH. Straith died in January 1872, still a young man. Although unable to find his cause of death, we presume disease. His wife survived him by just over a decade. On the last page of the album, he wrote:
   
  Farewell! should be told by the eye,
  Or if written, should faintly appear.
  Should be heard in the sound of a sigh,
  Or seen in the fall of a tear.

  Condition

  Spine with damage, binding a bit loose. Most pages present, with only one blank leaf being torn. Scattered foxing, minor damp stains front and back (appears as though the spine got wet, possibly contributing to the damage in that area).
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