Kenton Harper & Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, Letters Signed, Plus a Sad Resignation 

Lot of 4, including: Kenton Harper. ALS as Colonel, with an endorsement signed by General T.J. Jackson, 1p, 8 x 10 in., "Camp Harman." August 29, 1861. Colonel Harper writes to Jackson:

I have just received intelligence of the serious illness of my wife, of such a nature, indeed, as induces me to apprehend I shall never her again alive. Under the circumstances I feel constrained by the highest obligations of duty to ask leave of absence for a few days.

The adjoining page of the letter includes the text: Camp Harman/ Aug. 29th 1861/ Kenton Harper/ Col. 5th Va. Regt./ Applies for leave of absence.

It was widely thought that Jackson "turned down" Harper's request for a leave of absence, but that is not so, as on this document, Jackson signs the following:

Hd. Qrs. 29 Aug./ 1st Brigade/ Respectfully approved/ and forwarded/ T.J. Jackson/ Brig. Gen. P.A.C.S./ Comg. 1st Brigade.

Below that is written the following, not in Jackson's hand:

Hd. Qrs. Army Potomac/ Aug. 20th 1861/ Disapproved/ By comd. of Gen./ Thos. J. Jackson/ Not granted.

It was not Jackson that disapproved Harper's leave, but that of the Commanding General, Joseph E. Johnston.

At some point, this letter was in a fire and a 1 in. portion of Harper's letter and the "disapproved" portion on the reverse were damaged. To avoid further deterioration, the letter has been de-acidified and conservation has been done with the filling of the burned portion. The restoration did not touch or come close to Jackson's signature, and with the letter and endorsements on separate pages, this piece is excellent for display.

Accompanied by: Kenton Harper. ALS as Colonel, 1p, 5 x 8 in., "Camp Harman." September 3, 1861. Colonel Harper pens a touching and poignant letter to his old friend and commander Stonewall Jackson, tendering his resignation. He writes, in part:

I respectfully tender my resignation as Colonel in The Active Volunteer Forces of Virginia. 

I deem it an act of justice to myself to say that I do so only because of the peculiar condition of my family, which requires my immediate presence. I hope therefore I may be allowed the indulgence to visit them at once upon my unconditional resignation.

On the reverse of this retained copy, Harper has written: Approved by Gen. Jackson, but refused by Gen. Johnston until action could be had upon my resignation at Richmond.

Thomas G. Rhett, A.A. General. ALS, 1p, 7.75 x 9.75 in., "Hd Qrs Army of the Potomac." September 5, 1861. Approval of the resignation of Colonel Harper. Thomas G. Rhett was the older brother of one of the most famous "Fire-Eaters" in the South, Robert Barnwell Rhett, who has been referred to as the "Father of Secession." Thomas, who served as A.A. General in Richmond, died on December 26, 1861, just three months after signing this document.

Manuscript Special Order No. 270, 6.75 x 7.75 in., from the Secretary of War Department in Richmond, VA, September 15, 1861, accepting Harper's resignation. Signed by the Assistant Adjutant General, George Deas.

At some point, the letter from Harper, endorsed by Jackson, was in a fire and a 1 in. portion of Harper's letter and the "disapproved" portion on the reverse were damaged. To avoid further deterioration, the letter has been de-acidified and conservation has been done with the filling of the burned portion. The restoration did not touch or come close to Jackson's signature, and with the letter and endorsements on separate pages, this piece is excellent for display.