JAMES H. LEDLIE WAR-DATE AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED AS COLONEL, 3RD NEW YORK ARTILLERY — NEW BERN, N.C., JULY 23, 1862 — CONCERNING THE COMMISSIONS OF CAPT. ANDREW COWAN'S BATTERY

JAMES H. LEDLIE WAR-DATE AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED AS COLONEL, 3RD NEW YORK ARTILLERY — NEW BERN, N.C., JULY 23, 1862 — CONCERNING THE COMMISSIONS OF CAPT. ANDREW COWAN'S BATTERY

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Two-page autograph letter signed, on a folded bifolium of blue-ruled letter paper with blind-embossed stationer's device at upper left, headed "Hd. Quarters 3d Art. N.Y. Vol., Newbern N.C., July 23d 1862," and signed "James H. Ledlie, Col. Comdg. 3d N.Y. Artillery." Addressed to Brig. Genl. Hillhouse, Adjutant General, State of New York, Albany.

Ledlie writes that when in Albany some three weeks earlier he returned the commissions of Capt. Cowan and 1st Lieut. Johnson, asking that they be reissued as captain and first lieutenant in the 3rd New York Artillery rather than in the 1st Independent Battery. The Adjutant General noted the change in pencil and promised to send them the next day; Ledlie has "not yet received them" (underlined in the original). The officers have written him two or three times and report being told the commissions were sent long since; if so, Ledlie asks for duplicates. He reports assigning Lieut. Kendrick to the vacancy created by the promotion of 2nd Lieut. Johnson in "Kennedy's (now Cowan's) Battery," and closes with a proud note on the regiment: "We have now six light batteries finely mounted and fully equipped, and expect to join Gen. Burnside at Newport News very soon."

The integral address leaf carries the original office docket of the New York Adjutant General's department, in ink between red-ruled lines: "Newbern N.C. July 23, 1862 / James H. Ledlie, Col. Com. 3d N.Y.V. Artillery / Wants Commissions forwarded," with a red filing number "4156," a blue pencil note recording that the matter was answered in previous correspondence, and "Rec'd July 30."

 

TRANSCRIPTION

Hd. Quarters 3d Art. N.Y. Vol.

Newbern N.C. July 23d 1862

General

When in Albany about three weeks since I handed back to you the Commissions of Capt. Cowan & 1st Lieut. Johnson and requested that they be made out as Captain and 1st Lieut. in the 3d N.Y. Artillery (instead of in 1st Independent Battery). You made a note in pencil on them to that effect and said you would send them to me the next day. I have not yet received them. The Officers in question have written to me for the Commissions two or three times, and state that they have received word from you that they were sent to me some time since. Now if they were sent they have been miscarried or lost. If so please send duplicates. I have assigned Lieut. Kendrick (who you commissioned and sent on some time since) to fill the place made vacant by the promotion of 2d Lieut. Johnson in Kennedy's (now Cowan's) Battery. We have now six light batteries finely mounted and fully equipped, and expect to join Gen. Burnside at Newport News very soon. Hoping to hear from you soon I remain

Very Respectfully

Your Obt. Servt.

James H. Ledlie

Col. Comdg.

3d N.Y. Artillery

 

To Brig. Genl. Hillhouse

Adj. Genl., State of New York

Albany

 

 

James Hewett Ledlie (1832-1882), a Utica-born civil engineer, entered service as major of the 19th New York Infantry, which was converted to artillery as the 3rd New York Light Artillery with Ledlie as colonel. The regiment served in Burnside's North Carolina Expedition and garrisoned New Bern following its capture in March 1862. Promoted brigadier general of volunteers, Ledlie commanded the First Division, Ninth Corps, in the Overland and Petersburg campaigns. His division led the assault following the mine explosion at the Crater on July 30, 1864 — the disaster for which he is chiefly remembered. The subsequent court of inquiry found that he had remained in a bombproof well behind the lines during the attack, and he is widely reported to have been drinking there. He resigned in January 1865 and returned to railroad engineering, dying on Staten Island in 1882. By coincidence of the calendar, the Albany clerk docketed this letter received on July 30, 1862 — two years to the day before the Crater.

The letter's chief interest lies in its subject. "Kennedy's (now Cowan's) Battery" was the battery raised originally within Ledlie's regiment under Capt. Terrance J. Kennedy and detached as the 1st New York Independent Battery. Its new captain, Andrew Cowan, would lead it into lasting fame at Gettysburg, where his guns fired double canister into the Confederate assault near the Copse of Trees on July 3, 1863. Here Ledlie is attempting to keep the battery, and its officers' commissions, under the 3rd New York Artillery — a contest over regimental identity he did not win, as the battery served out the war as the 1st New York Independent Battery.

CONDITION:  Two pages of text on a folded bifolium, with integral docketed address leaf; approx. 7 3/4 x 9 7/8 in. per leaf. Bold, highly legible brown ink. Original folds with light crease wrinkling, light toning along the spine fold of the docket panel, and scattered light soiling to the docket panel. Very good overall.      [ss][ph:L]

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