Stephen D. Lee and Thomas N. Waul Letters Concerning the Establishment of the Vicksburg National Park. ...

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Former Confederate Generals who fought at Vicksburg work to establish Vicksburg National Park

Stephen D. Lee and Thomas N. Waul Letters Concerning the Establishment of the Vicksburg National Park. Four letters by Stephen D. Lee and two letters by Thomas N. Waul together with a period printing of the location records for the park, a letter by William T. Rigby, and a retained typed copy of a letter by Mississippi Governor James K. Vardaman. The lot includes:

Stephen D. Lee Autograph Letter Signed. Two pages on Vicksburg National Military Park Commission letterhead, 8" x 10.5"; Columbus, Mississippi; November 21, 1899. Lee writes to Captain William T. Rigby about the progress he is making in acquiring land for the Vicksburg National Park. He writes, in part: "... I note the no [number] of acres in Park & prices paid. It seems to me we have come as near squaring with the am't allowed for purchase as could be reasonably expected. I think best we keep quiet till we have the meeting of the commission, & believe we can word some of the land expenditures so as to free sufficient cash to come within the $40,000 named. In fact I don't see that the matter can be definitely settled till Hayden rounds of the last survey... Many difficult points are clearing up in sending the reports now on... Champion Hill. My visit there has proven a great satisfaction to me. I would like now to go over the land between the Edwards & Middle Raymond Road and to the lower ford - when the Confederates went in retreat..." Signed, "Stephen D. Lee." Lee became the first chairman of Vicksburg National Park in 1895 and was a key participant in Congress passing the law the National Park in 1899.

Stephen D. Lee Typed Letter Signed. One page, 8" x 10.5"; Vicksburg, Mississippi; December 7, 1905. Lee writes to Mississippi state senator Muray F. Smith sending a draft of an appropriation bill (not present) for the Vicksburg National Park. Together with a typed memorandum for Smith requesting that the state legislature authorize the Board of Supervisors of Warren County to raise and expend funds for the building of roads from Vicksburg to the Park. Both the letter and the memorandum are signed, "Stephen D. Lee."

Also present is a typed copy of a letter from Mississippi Governor James K. Vardaman to Lee letting him know that he will submit a special message to the legislature about the proposition to authorize the Board of Supervisors of Warren County to "make appropriate expenditures upon the public highways leading to the park." Signed in type.

Stephen D. Lee Autograph Letter Signed. Two pages on Vicksburg National Military Park Commission letterhead, 8" x 10.5"; Columbus, Mississippi; December 26, 1905. Lee writes to Mississippi state senator Murray F. Smith about working together to obtain funding for the Vicksburg National Park. In part: "... I beg you call on Capt. Rigby & ask him to call on you at your convenience & discuss Park matters - before you go to Jackson, & he will explain all you wish as to what is wanted by the Commission. We feel a State memorial erected with history of all Miss. organizations on it, & markers for the regiments and batteries is the best way to spend the money - not waste it in Regimental monuments, but put most of money in one splendid state memorial, & only markers where the regiments & batteries were..." Signed, "Stephen D. Lee."

Thomas N. Waul Autograph Letter Signed. Three pages of a bifolium, 8" x 10.5"; Cherry Hill, Hunt County, Texas; December 4, 1899. Waul writes to Captain William T. Rigby stating that he cannot attend a meeting for the "organization of the cemetery" and writes at length about the importance of paying tribute to all who died at Vicksburg. He writes, "... I desired to place my tribute indiscriminately upon the graves of those whose last earthly rest is under the green trees of the 'Magnolia Hills' and who have and will receive the honor and praise due to all whose courage and endurance testified to the faith they had in the cause for which the fought and fell. I would din behalf of the surviving Confederate soldiers join most heartily in the sentiment of our President that 'every soldier's grave on either side is a tribute to American valor' a sentiment felt even when unuttered by the most gallant and daring and thoroughly attested by the Legislative act of the cemetery sacred to the memory of all who fell... I should have been pleased to enlarge upon the devotion and patriotism of the sons of the dead and surviving confederate soldiers rallying to the call of our common country marching shoulder to shoulder under the star spangled banner to the music of the Union, whether the road led to victory or the grave..." Signed "T N Waul." Accompanied by the original transmittal cover.

Thomas N. Waul Autograph Letter Signed. Two pages, 8.75" x 11.25"; Neyland, Hunt County, Texas; January 12, 1900. Waul writes to Captain William T. Rigby remitting a letter (not present) and making corrections about the designations of the Texas troops at Vicksburg. In part: "... Your names and descriptions are correct but the commands are not definitely named. The only troops in Vicksburg attached to Texas commands were 2nd Texas Infantry, Ashbell Smith Col. All others you have named were portion of Waul's Texas Legion consisting of his 1st and 2nd Battalions of Infantry, 1st Company of Artillery, the body of the Battalion was outside. The Battalion of Cavalry was outside temporarily with Forrest Lieut Cleveland of the 4th Co of Cavalry was communicating and a bearer of reports from the Battalion and was unfortunately caught inside. You have properly named the officers and the commands to which they were attached and their proper rank. The 2nd Texas Infantry was in Moore's Brigade..." He also discusses the appropriation of funds for the project in Texas adding that the current governor is a "surviving Confederate." Signed, "T N Waul."

The last item in the lot is a seven-page period printing on blue paper titled, "Vicksburg National Military Park Commission. The Location Records." Printed on blue paper measuring 8" x 13", the document lists all of the positions for the various regiments on both the Union and Confederate side during the siege and Battle of Vicksburg. There are a total of 544 line items. The pages are affixed with three grommets at top to a slightly larger sheet of heavy stock.

Condition: Typed Lee letters, Lee ALS dated December 26, 1905, Rigby letter and Vardaman letter all have a small punch hole at top center suggesting they were all held together. Lee typed letters and Vardaman letter have additional pinholes at top left. Rigby letter has a small ink stain. Waul letter dated January 12, 1900 has separations at the margins at all folds, creasing and toning. Seven-page printing has soiling, creasing and dog-eared corners on all pages.

Provenance: From the Private Collection of a Mississippi Gentleman.

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2023 September 21 Historical Manuscripts Signature® Auction #6272 (go to Auction Home page)

Auction Dates

September, 2023

21st Thursday

Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 7

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Sold on Sep 21, 2023 for: $1,250.00

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