Ink Bottle with manuscript paper label identification in period ink, "Ink bottle from which Genl Lee wrote order to retreat from Gettysburg." The bottle is dark blue, 9" circumference, 2" tall, manufactured by Harrison's Columbian Ink. The Provenance: A 1922 typed and signed statement is provided by George H. Stuart, Jr. His father, George H. Stuart who founded the Philadelphia YMCA in 1854; then was Chairman of the United States Christian Commission (organized by YMCAs to recruit and support Union troops). The statement is headed, "INK BOTTLE INTO WHICH ROBERT E. LEE COMMANDING THE ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA DIPPED HIS PEN JULY 3, 1863 TO SIGN THE ORDER FOR THE RETREAT FROM GETTYSBURG." Conyinues in part, "I, George H. Stuart, Jr ... son of the late George H. Stuart, ... do hereby state and declare that the attached glass bottle ... was obtained by him immediately after the battle of Gettysburg from the owner ... of the house on Chambersburg Road, used by General Robert E. Lee ... as his headquarters ... I further state and declare that on several occasions my Father stated to me that he obtained this ink bottle soon after his arrival at Gettysburg July 4th 1863, to supervise the work of the delegates of the United States Christian Commission on that battlefield, and that upon visiting the above mentioned house, the owner or tenant, a women whose name I am now unable to recall, pointed out the table around which General Lee and some Generals were gathered during the battle, stating that the ink bottle above described was the bottle into which General Lee dipped his pen to sign the order for the retreat of the Army of Northern Virginia from Gettysburg ..."The Thompson House: At the time of the battle, the house was the dwelling place of Mrs. Mary Thompson, who was known by the residents of Gettysburg simply as the "Widow" Thompson. She was not excited about having her house occupied by a "Rebel," but she "...testifies that the gentlemanly deportment of General Lee whilst in her house, but complains bitterly of the robbery and general destruction of her goods by some of his attendants." In the Spring of 1922 the house was opened to the public as the Lee Museum by Mr. C. F. Daley who began displaying artifacts and relics found on the battlefield and brought back to town by visiting veterans. Since that time, the museum has been in continuous operation and remains one of the oldest museums in Gettysburg.The Retreat: Headquarters Army Of Northern Virginia, July 4, 1863. General Orders No. 74. I. The army will vacate its position this evening. General A. P. Hill's corps will commence the movement, withdrawing from its position after dark, and proceed on the Fairfield road to the pass in the mountains, which it will occupy, selecting the strongest ground for defense toward the east . General Longstreet's corps will follow, and General Ewell's corps bring up the rear. These two latter corps will proceed through and go into camp. General Longstreet's corps will be charged with the escort of the prisoners, and will habitually occupy the center of the line of march. General Ewell's and General Hill's corps will alternately take the front and rear on the march.II. The trains which accompany the army will habitually move between the leading and the rear corps, each under the charge of their respective chief quartermasters. Lieutenant-colonel [James L.] Corley, chief quartermaster of the army, will regulate the order in which they shall move. Corps commanders will see that the officers remain with their trains, and that they move steadily and quietly, and that the animals are properly cared for.III. The artillery of each corps will move under the charge of their respective chiefs of artillery, the whole under the general superintendence of the commander of the artillery of the army.IV. General Stuart will designate a cavalry command not exceeding two squadrons to precede and follow the army in its line of march, the commander of the advance reporting to the commander of the leading corps, the commander of the rear to the commander of the rear corps. He will direct one or two brigades, as he may think proper, to proceed to Cashtown this afternoon and hold that place until the rear of the army has passed Fairfield, and occupy the gorge in the mountains; after crossing which to proceed in the direction of Greencastle, guarding the right and rear of the army on its march to Hagerstown and Williamsport. General Stuart, with the rest of the cavalry, will this evening take the route .to Emmettsburg, and proceed thence toward Cavetown and Boonsboro', guarding the left and rear of the army.V. The commanding general earnestly exhorts each corps commander to see that every officer exerts the utmost vigilance, steadiness, and boldness during the whole march.
Loading...
25:56
Buffalo Hunters Camp/Battlefieldby GarrettDetectors2,984 views
Link to this comment:
All Comments (0)