(1815-1889) English-born brigadier general of North Carolina state troops, appointed Confederate States Army brigadier general by Jefferson Davis in February 1865 but declined the promotion. Badly wounded and captured at Gettysburg. Good association A.L.S., 4pp. 8vo., Lenoir, NC, May 12, 1888, to fellow Confederate general and historian Marcus J. Wright (1831-1922), compiler of ‘War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies’, a U.S. War Department publication. In part: ‘… It was quite unnecessary you should have mentioned your position in the Confederate Army. Your name & services are well known to me. I was so unfortunate as to lose all my papers – including commissions &c – by fire, in 1872. Therefore, I fear the information which I may be able to supply will be rather scanty. It will afford me much pleasure to assist you in your researches as far as I can. I must ask the favor of a delay of two weeks, as I cannot have earlier access to what few papers I may still possess. The only photograph of myself that I have is in civilian dress. I will write to New York for it, & forward it to you. I have a certificate of good service in the hand-writing of Gen R. E. Lee. I your researches render such documents of interest I will send that also. I shall not hesitate, in the least, to do this in your instance, knowing that, as a soldier, you will understand such a testimonial if of infinite value in my eyes…’ He signs boldly in black ink at the conclusion. Expertly inlaid into a 4to. page, disbound, with original mailing folds and a few pencil inscriptions on the final page, otherwise in fine condition overall.