(1806 - 1878) Confederate major general, who fought at Belmont and was second-in-command at Fort Donelson from which he fled to avoid capture by Grant. Historic content and association A.L.S., 1p. 4to., ‘Head Quarters Army Tenn’, Memphis, Jan. 26, 1861, a dispatch to be sent by telegraph to Tennessee governor Isham G. Harris. In full: ‘I have examined the Treaty of Tennessee with Confederate States, and I am satisfied that my impressions were erroneous – Tennessee’s Army is clearly an independent state force, and it will require the action of the Legislature to make any change in its character. I telegraph you at once, that the opinion I express may not be the means of leading you to erroneous conclusions. My opinion is that action should be taken by the State to change its character immediately.’ He signs ‘Gid J Pillow’ in black ink at the conclusion, adding his rank ‘Major Genl. Com. A[rmy] T[ennessee]’. Shows original mailing folds, otherwise in fine condition overall. In this message, Pillow responds to the indecision which existed in many Confederate states at the outbreak of the war, over whether to regard their state troops as independent state armies, or to combine them as one grand Confederate army. Of course, the latter option would be chosen.