Dated “Hd Qrs Eng. Dept A.T/ Oct. 13 1863”. Addressed “Capt. R.P. Rowley/ Eng. In charge Chickamauga”. 1pp., in ink, on lined paper, 8 x 9.5”. Exhibits fold-marks, w/paper & ink lightly faded, w/light mount staining along right margin. Else VG & entirely legible. In protective sleeve, accompanied by documentation.

This letter is from a collection of war-time correspondence of R.P. Rowley who served in various posts, at various ranks, with the Confederate corps of Engineers. Rowley was a talented young Arkansas native eventually promoted to Lt. Colonel, serving first with the Army of Tennessee and later in the Trans. Miss. Dept., where he superintended engineering projects in the districts of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. At the war’s end he returned to Arkansas, serving in the state legislature, residing on a Mississippi River plantation in Lonoke County, where he died in 1899. This voluminous collection mentions numerous officers serving with the Army of Tennessee.

Text:

“Captain…..You will please request the commdg officer of the several Engineer companies to furnish me with a report of the their commands.

I want it today and the courier will remain and bring them with him. The companies from Buckner’s Corps as well as the others are required to report/ Yours Truly/ S.W. Presstman/ Capt & chief Engr//Reports to be similar in form to the printed morning reports.” //Reverse address: “Captain R.P. Rowley/ Chickamauga”.

Stephen William Presstman was a 31 year old Alexandria, VA resident and civil engineer who enlisted in June 1861 as Captain in the 17^th VA Infantry. Transferring to the Corps of Engineers, he was promoted eventually to Lt. Colonel of the Army of Tennessee. He was accidently killed in a railway accident, at Danville, VA, 1/31/1864.

This letter was written some three weeks after the Army of Tennessee’s victory at Chickamauga. The Buckner reference is to Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner, who had in February 1862 surrendered Ft. Donelson to US Grant.

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