An amazing letter with a content that is connected to the Franklin-Nashville Campaign and the Battle of Allatoona Pass! This document discusses the state of affairs on October 4th, 1864, which was during Confederate General John B. Hood’s Franklin-Nashville Campaign against Union General William T. Sherman. This campaign started on September 18th and lasted through December 27th, 1864, with Hood fleeing from General Sherman. This letter was written by a staff officer and signed at the conclusion by Union Brigadier General Washington Lafayette Elliot. At the time of this letter, Elliot was the Chief of Calvary for the Army of the Cumberland. It also mentions Elliot taking his command towards Allatoona, which was attacked the very next day by the Confederates on October 5th, 1864! The full transcript is as follows:

Head-Quarters Chief of Cavalry,

Department of the Cumberland

Marietta and Dallas Road Oct. 4th 1864

General,

I have prisoners from Stewart’s Corps captured yesterday, the Corps is now supposed to be the one on the Railroad above. I have prisoners from Lee’s Corps taken today. Lee is now camped on the Dallas Road and three miles off, these prisoners say Hardee’s Corps is in their rear.

I have ordered my command to be ready to march at daylight and will go in the direction of Lost Mountain to Alatoona, although if Hardee should be where he is represented to be, I will not be able to make much progress in that direction. Please communicate this to Genl. Sherman. I have done so to General Stanley.

I am General, very Respectfully

Your Obed’t Servant

W. L. Elliot

Brig. Genl. And

Chf. Of Cavy.

Genl. William Vandever

Comdg. Distict Marietta

The document has some paper loss, but none of the text is affected by this. This item has great content and historical significance. It has been professionally framed, to include double matting and museum quality plexiglass. Along with the document, the framed piece includes a reproduction photograph showing Elliot during the war. The piece measures approximately 22” X 18” in size.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.

THANK YOU!