Edward Porter Alexander (1835 - 1910) commanded a battalion of artillery in James Longstreet's corps, Army of Northern Virginia, from November 1862 until February 1864, and served as Longstreet's Chief of Artillery from March 1864 until April 1865. He was placed in charge of 75 guns supporting "Pickett's Charge" at Gettysburg on July 3, 1863. Alexander wrote this letter to eminent military historian John C. Ropes from Greytown, Nicaragua, in 1899. In the letter, Alexander analyzes Pickett's Charge and suggests the attack was conducted in the worse possible place; instead, he opines that the assault should have been launched from south of town against Cemetery Hill. Alexander drew a small map at the end of the text to illustrate his points. The letter contains exceptional historical content and reads in part:

“I never knew it till I visited the field three years ago - & first saw the whole federal line, & I wonder it has never been written about. Picketts Charge was made at wrong place - very worst place almost. exposed to miles of line, & its formations enfiladed from Round Top. & ¾ mile to go under fire. From south edge of town was infinitely better place. Ground is there to day to show comparative advantages – less fire. less distance. no enfilade. Very Sincerely Yours E P Alexander”

The document is in excellent original condition and now resides in an archival Mylar sleeve. It has also been professionally framed with acid-free materials and UV protective glass. The entire letter is present, but only the final page discussing Pickett's Charge is visible in the presentation, measuring 4 ¾” x 7 ¾”.  The frame measures 34 ½” x 24 ½”.

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

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!