Stonewall Jackson War-Dated ALS Re: Securing CSA Appointment For Barton Sons; All 6 Would Serve, 3 Would Die in Action or of Injuries

A 2pp autograph letter signed by Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson (1824-1863), recently promoted to Major General of the Confederate States Army, as "T.J. Jackson" on the bottom of the second page. December 8, 1861. At "Hd. Qrs." [Winchester, Virginia.] On a leaf of bifold paper displayed in a floating mount framed behind glass. The third and fourth pages are blank. Expected wear including flattened folds, some darkened. Isolated minor foxing. Else near fine. The actual size of the letter unfolded is 10" x 8." Not examined out of frame. Expected wear including scattered scuffs and surface loss to the frame. The overall frame size is 11.25" x 9.125" x .625."

Stonewall Jackson was promoted to Major General two months earlier, on October 7, 1861. His promotion came with command of the Valley District, one of three districts comprising the newly formed Department of Northern Virginia. Jackson had established headquarters in Winchester, Virginia by late October 1861, amassing assembled forces numbering about 10,000 troops. Winchester, in northern Virginia near the present day West Virginia border and just 75 miles northwest of Washington, D.C., was of vital strategic importance. Towards the end of December 1861, Jackson led his forces on the deeply unpopular Bath and Romney campaign, to harass the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad; and also ventured towards Hancock to threaten dams along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Auction examples of Stonewall Jackson autographed material from this early period of his generalship are scarce.

Jackson wrote this letter to David Walker Barton (ca. 1801-1863), one of Winchester's most well-respected and wealthy residents. Barton was a Yale-educated partner in the law firm Barton & Williams whose local prestige was augmented by a seat in the Virginia state legislature and a personal fortune in real estate and slave investments. After the Civil War broke out, Barton joined the "home guard," a militia group of middle aged and elderly soldiers attached to General Robert E. Lee. Barton had contacted Jackson to secure a military appointment for one of his six sons.

Major General Jackson wrote to David Walker Barton, in full:

"Hd. Qrs. Dec. 8, 1861.

Dr Sir,

I have read the letter you placed in my hands from Hon. Mr. Boteler [referring to Alexander Robinson Boteler (1815-1892), then a Virginia Representative to the Provisional Confederate Congress and future Virginia Congressman in the Confederate States House of Representatives].

From this letter it would seem that no appointment can be secured for your son in the Confederate Army. Of course my only power in this matter is that of recommendation, which I have already given, and will very cheerfully repeat, whenever it is likely to be of any service to him.

There are two words in the letter which I have underscored. I am not sure that I have correctly decyphered [sic] them, but I take them to be 'renumerate gentleman' for services rendered +c.

If you wish this I will give with great pleasure the proper certificate in the case.

Respectfully
yr obt Servt
T.J. Jackson

D.W. Barton Esq."

It is unknown for which of his six sons Barton was seeking a military appointment. A probable candidate was his fourth oldest son, 19-year-old Robert Thomas. Barton's five oldest sons, aged 25, 24, 22, 19, and 17 respectively, had all previously enlisted in the Spring and Summer of 1861. Robert Thomas had been discharged for disability in June 1861, and there was nearly a year-long gap between this discharge and his mustering in again. It follows then, that Robert Thomas was trying, albeit unsuccessfully, to rejoin in December 1861. When Robert did succeed in reenlisting in March 1862, it was to join the Virginia Rockbridge Artillery attached to Jackson's Brigade. All of Barton's six sons would eventually serve in the Confederate States Army. They were often in the same units, and some saw their siblings wounded or killed. The two eldest sons were killed in action in 1862, and the third eldest son succumbed to battle injuries in 1868.

A brief biography of Barton's sons can be found below, with an emphasis on military service:

1. Charles Marshall Barton (1836-1862). An 1856 graduate of the Virginia Military Institute. Served in Cutshaw's Company, Virginia Light Artillery. Killed in action at the First Battle of Winchester on May 25, 1862.

2. David Rittenhouse Barton (1837-1862). A member of the "Southern Guard" affiliated with the University of Virginia, his alma mater; and then part of the Rockbridge Artillery and Cutshaw's Company attached to Jackson's Brigade. Killed in action at the Battle of Fredericksburg in December 1862.

3. William Strother Barton (1839-1868). Enlisted as a private in the Winchester Rifles, 2nd Virginia Regiment, in May 1861. Participated in Jackson's Bath & Romney campaign in January 1862. Wounded at the Battle of First Manassas in July 1861 and then more grievously wounded at the November 1863 engagement at Payne's Farm/Mine Run, which necessitated the full amputation of one leg and the partial amputation of the other. Died of pneumonia related to his injuries in 1868.

4. Robert Thomas Barton (1842-1917). Enlisted in May 1861 and discharged for disability in June 1861. In March 1862 mustered into the Virginia Rockbridge Artillery. Struggled with illness and later served with the Nitre & Mining Corps before being invalided out in the Fall of 1864.

5. Randolph Jones Barton (1844-1921). An 1860 graduate of the Virginia Military Institute. Enlisted in July 1861 and assigned to the 33rd Virginia Infantry. Wounded at the Battle of First Manassas. Participated in Jackson's Bath & Romney Campaign in late December 1861 and January 1862. Later a prisoner of war. Served until war's end.

6. Bolling Walker Barton (1845-1924). Attended the Virginia Military Institute from 1862-1864, graduating in a special class in 1866. Enlisted in May 1864 and as a cadet fought at the May 1864 Battle of New Market.

Thomas "Stonewall” Jackson was a Virginia-born West Point graduate whose first military service was in the Mexican War. At the start of the Civil War, Jackson resigned from his teaching position at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia to command the Virginia militia. Jackson garnered his famous sobriquet during the First Battle of Manassas, where he inspired Confederate resistance against Union troop advances. Jackson continued to perform brilliantly in military campaigns throughout 1862. The night of the Confederate victory at Chancellorsville on May 2, 1863, Jackson was hit by friendly fire while meeting with a staff member. Gravely wounded, “Old Blue Light” died just a little over a week later of complications. David Walker Barton died just a few months later, in July 1863, having buried two of his sons.

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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