Lot 143: LEW WALLACE (1827-1905). Union major general who

LEW WALLACE (1827-1905). Union major general who defended Baltimore and Washington from Confederate forces under Jubal Early at the Battle of Monocacy; author of Ben Hur; governor of New Mexico. Important war-date ALS, 4pp with integral leaf, 73/4"x10", Louisville, KY, Jan 23, 1863. On lightly lined paper to noted historian J. B. Lossing with remarkable content regarding his own involvement in the Civil War, his counterpart Confederate General Kirby Smith, the ongoing investigation of General Don Carlos Buell, the Emancipation Proclamation and more. In part: "...You know I left you to rejoin my command at Memphis. On reaching Indianapolis, however, nothing would do Gov. Morton but that I should stop and stump certain Districts of the State in favor of enlistments...Despite a persevering application through my friends, as well as in person, the gates of the field have been closed against me. It is true I broke through twice by volunteering: Once in command of a regiment and again to defend Cincinnati against Kirby Smith. To be more particular the duties I performed may be summed up-I organized the army that [William 'Bull'] Nelson so carelessly suffered to be annihilated at Richmond, Ky, then organized an army of near seventy thousand men at Covington and Newport, and completed the works at those places, by which Cincinnati was saved from sack; then went to Columbus, and restored order among the paroled prisoners at Camp Chase: was then ordered to report to Gen. Grant for duty, and while en route to Corinth, at Cairo received an order to return to Cincinnati, where I was appointed President of the Commission charged with investigating Gen. Buel[l]'s operations in Kentucky and Tennessee: a duty still in progress, as interminable, too, as it is distasteful. As to this latter, however, you may console yourself-in the volume we are slowly compiling, likely to be as large as the celebrated Report of the Kansas Investigation, you will find voluminous matter from which to write a true history of Gen. Buel[l]'s conduct, management, successes, and failures, as General Commanding the Department and Army of the Ohio. At this time I am not at liberty to give my opinions on the subject: but will do so at the conclusion of the testimony. When you come, in writing your book, to this chapter, you will be greatly interested, I am satisfied, in our report, and in its accompanying maps, telegrams, orders, correspondence, etc.... In time of peace or inactivity nothing would be more instructive than this investigation: usually whatever is instructive is pleasant; but as the armies are everywhere in movement, as battles are every day occurrences, as we cannot help continually feeling that the crisis of the great struggle is now upon us, requiring the help of every soldier and general in the field, as you can well imagine, being in good health and at all times rather boastful of my power of endurance, this clerical chamber business chafes me; at the same time I cannot see anything in it to justify the exclusive occupation of three Major Generals and two Brig. Generals...But changing the subject - Is your faith in the result of the war strong as ever? Isn't it shaken some by recent transactions? By the elections? the threatening attitude of certain politicians? the growing discontent in some of the States? the emptiness of the treasury? the prospective ruin of the national credit? the speedy conclusion of the term of service of a large portion of our army? the difficulty of supplying the deficiency? the hostility manifested against the Emancipation Proclamation? the many defeats? Do not these things move your faith nothing?..." Wallace closes with remembrances to Mrs. Lossing, adding this his wife Sue is with him. "...I need hardly say that our visit to Po'Keepsie is very frequently a subject of conversation with us, and always a pleasant one..." Darkly penned and signed in his neat easily legible holograph. Normal mailing folds, one of which transverses Wallace's first initial; else Fine. Wallace is actually writing to noted author, editor, and Civil War historian Benson J. Lossing [1813-1891]. The investigation of Major General Don Carlos Buell (1818-1898) which Wallace references his participation, was precipitated by Buell's failure to pursue Bragg's withdrawal following the Battle of Perryville in Oct 1862. One of the few Union officers who was a slaveholder, he was widely perceived as a Confederate sympathizer and was relieved of field command a few weeks later, retiring from military service in 1864. This letter is accompanied by an 1886 ALS by historian CHARLES WHITTLESEY to Lossing transmitting a magazine as well as an offprint from Magazine of Western History, July 1885 edition, containing a ten-page article by Whittlesey titled "Wallace At Shiloh," which he inscribes to Lossing and signs with his initials. Light general toning to letter; minor paper clip stain; else Fine. The offprint is generally toned, a bit darker on first page edges; edgewear; else VG/Fine. Significant historical content with important associations. Original owner's envelope present indicating the archive was from the collection of James J. Wolf sold at The Anderson Galleries, Park Avenue, NY, dating from the early 1900s. Very desirable. PSA/DNA LOA.