R.E. Lee & GA Gov J.E. Brown Secretarial Sigs on Civil War Dated Telegram Correspondence

Two pieces of Civil War-dated correspondence exchanged between Confederate General Robert E. Lee (1807-1870) and Georgia Governor Joseph E. Brown (1821-1894). Expected wear including flattened paper folds and isolated rusted paper clip impressions, else very good to near fine.

The lot is comprised of:

1. A 1p telegram blank inscribed and secretarially signed on behalf of Lee, as: "Mayor of Augusta applies / for martial law to be / extended over that city / Genl Pemberton recommends / it be proclaimed in such / Do you approve it / R.E. Lee." Issued from Richmond, Virginia on May 5, 1862. The partly printed and partly handwritten blank is printed "Milledgeville and Macon Telegraph Line, / Connecting with all Lines, East, West, North and South" along the letterhead. 4.875" x 7.625."

2. A 1p response from Governor Brown, inscribed and secretarially signed on behalf of him, as: "Millig May 6th / If the authorities of Augusta, and Savannah desire / Martial Law, and Genl Pemberton thinks it a / military necessity, I have no objection / JEB." Uneven bottom. 7.75" x 3.875."

General Robert E. Lee had been appointed as Acting Confederate Secretary of War and principal military advisor to Confederate President Jefferson Davis in mid-March 1862. Lee fielded various requests in this capacity, including Major General John C. Pemberton's April 12, 1862 recommendation that martial law be declared in the cities of Savannah and Augusta. Pemberton commanded the Confederate Department of South Carolina and Georgia from mid-March until late August 1862. In an April 24, 1862 communication, Pemberton cited the "present disorganized condition of the State troops" as one of the principal reasons to impose martial law in Augusta and Savannah. Neighboring South Carolina Governor Francis W. Pickens declared martial law in metropolitan Charleston on May 5, 1862. The language in this South Carolina declaration gives us an idea of what wartime martial law entailed, namely, the "suspension of all civil jurisdiction" and ultimate military authority over property, levies, roads, bridges, and dues.

Governor Brown's tenure from 1857 to 1865 covered the entire span of the Civil War. Although Brown had strongly advocated for secession in 1861, he resisted Confederate policy pertaining to inscription and impressment. By 1864, Brown called for the South’s surrender since most of Georgia lay in ruins after Sherman’s March to the Sea.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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