(1815 - 1863) Confederate brigadier general who commanded a brigade at Seven Pines and in the Seven Days, defended Marye's Height at Fredericksburg, and was killed at the Wheatfield at Gettysburg. Very rare A.E.S. ‘Paul J. Semmes’ on a war-date letter from a surgeon of the 15th Regiment, Georgia Volunteers, 1p. 4to., Centerville, Dec. 5, 1861, certifying that a 2nd lieutenant of the regiment has contracted camp fever and is unfit for duty, and requesting a certificate of disability. Semmes pens his endorsement on the verso, in full: ‘Hd Qurs 6 Brig. 2 Corps A. P. 6 Decr. 1861 Respectfully forwarded’ and signs in black ink, adding his contemporary rank ‘Col 2d Regt G V Comdg’. The letter bears several additional endorsement from other officers, the final example rejecting the application by order of Maj. Gen. Gustavus W. Smith as it is not accompanied by a senior surgeon’s certificate, signed by Smith assistant adjutant general. Shows original mailing folds with a 1.5 in. split thereto at lower left, toned overall, otherwise in very good condition. The vast majority of letters and documents known to have been written by Semmes are unsigned, or signed only with his initials; his full signature is exceptionally rare.