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Civil War Papers of Philip Roddey, Brigadier General, 4th Alabama Cavalry, CSA....
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Description
Civil War Papers of Philip Roddey, Brigadier General, 4th Alabama Cavalry, CSA. Eighteen letters and documents dating from April 6 to May 17, 1865 regarding the final days of the war and the surrender of Confederate forces, most notably the signed memorandum signed by Philip Roddey and Union Brigadier General Robert S. Granger outlining the terms of surrender of the District of North Alabama.Roddey's 4th Alabama Cavalry participated in its last action at the Battle of Selma, Alabama, on April 2, 1865; a Confederate defeat in which most of Roddey's officers were captured. On April 24, Union Brigadier General Robert S. Granger, commander of Northern Alabama during the Union occupation, wrote a letter to Roddey to inform him that the men of his command "paroled at Selma and Montgomery may return to their house on the South side of the Tenn. River with security to person and property on conditions that they abstain from all political discussions prejudicial to the Gov't of the United States, and that they do not discourage others from returning to their allegiance to the United States, and do or say anything to the prejudice of the army or the Gov't of the United States."
Two days after this letter was written, Confederate forces under General Joseph E. Johnson surrendered to Union General William T. Sherman, essentially ending the Civil War. Two days after Johnson's surrender, on April 28, Roddey wrote a letter to Confederate Lieutenant General Richard Taylor, whose Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana had not yet surrendered. Roddey reported that his command was "somewhat scattered after the fall of Selma" and " is now being collected.... The greater portion of these however, are without arms, accoutrements, horses & some are in want of clothing. So far, I have been unable to supply these deficiencies.... I earnestly desire, that if it be possible, some portion of the articles needed be furnished me." Roddey's greatest need was for horses for his troops and he sought permission to buy them by selling government cotton. "It would be practicable however, to purchase horses, provided the means necessary for the purpose, could in any way be obtained. Could not some portion of the Government cotton...be used for the purpose indicated." Roddey's request was not granted. Taylor's department surrendered to Union forces on May 4, 1865.
On May 7, Roddey received the following letter from Thomas M. Crowder, Captain and Assistant Adjutant General of the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana, informing him that he was ordered "to move with your command either to this point [Gainesville, Alabama] or Columbus Miss as may be most convenient.... The Department has been surrendered. Our armies in the East have surrendered.... The General [Buford] would urge you to bring forward all your men, in order that they may be paroled.... Those who fail to come forward, will be considered as outlaws, and will be hunted down by detachments of Federal cavalry, which will also give excuse to them for indiscriminate robbery and plundering of citizens. We have been forced to succumb.... It is almost useless to talk of further resistance."
The next day, Roddey received a letter from an officer of the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana that enclosed a copy of an agreement (not present) between General Taylor and Union General Edward Canby concerning the parole of Confederate troops in the department and ordering him to carry out the terms regarding his own men. The same day, May 8, Roddey received a letter from one of his officers that enclosed "a copy of the Clarion containing the articles of surrender," which stated that "all officers are ordered to Meridian immediately but I hope that if it has to be done that the request to be surrendered in No. Alabama will be granted....I do not see any hope of doing anything nor any way to get out of a surrender, & however humiliating it may be let us accept the bitter draught, with the proud consciousness that we have done our whole duty."
There is in the archive a copy of telegram, dated May 10, from General Taylor to General Nathan Bedford Forrest informing him of the appointment of Roddey as "commissioner on the part of the Confederate States to act with an officer of the USA...for the purpose of paroling at Decatur the troops" of Roddey's command. On May 15 Roddey received a letter from Captain James Metcalf on the 2nd Iowa Cavalry outlining the general terms of surrender: "I have been instructed by Bvt. Maj. Genl. Edward Hatch...that he will accept the surrender of your command on the terms given by Genl. Lee by Genl. Grant, and to Genl. Taylor by Genl. Canby as follows, All officers and men to be paroled and allowed to go home, not to be molested as long as they obey the laws. All officers to retain their side arms, horses and private baggage. The men to retain their private horses. All government wagons, teams, harnesses, ambulances, ordnance & ordnance stores and property of all description to be turned over to the U.S. authorities...Rations will be furnished for the men until the surrender is consummated. Also forage for the stock. Guards will be furnished to prevent parties from committing depredation upon citizens and preserve peace & quiet in the country."
A draft memorandum as well as the final draft listing the conditions of surrender dated May 17, 1865 and signed by Roddey and Union Brigadier General Robert S. Granger, is included in the archive. The memorandum lists three points outlining how paroles were to be issued, the submission of artillery, arms, and ammunition to be turned over to the United States forces, and that all men would be allowed to return to their homes undisturbed. Both Roddey and Granger sign with their ranks. Roddey was one of the last Confederate generals to surrender. The archive is housed in a custom buckram folding case gilt-stamped "Gen. Philip D. Roddey, C.S.A." on the spine.
Condition: The letters and documents have the usual folds with uneven toning and offsetting throughout. May 7 Crowder letter to Roddey has paper loss affecting several words of text along the top horizontal fold. Signed May 17 memorandum has minor separations in the margins at the folds.
Auction Info
2024 April 5 Historical Manuscripts Signature® Auction #6285 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
April, 2024
5th
Friday
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