Varina Davis - Autograph Letter Signed - re/ Jefferson Davis's Imprisonment

Description: VARINA DAVIS. Important autograph letter signed by, “Varina Jefferson Davis,” on her family’s imprisonment and disdain for General Nelson A. Miles following the end of the Civil War. Addressed to Wilkes Barre Record editor J. Andrew Boyd, contains eight pages on two sets of two adjoining sheets, measures 5 by 4 inches, created at the Hotel Girard in New York City on March 7, 1905, and in pristine condition. IMPORTANT AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED BY VARINA DAVIS ON HER FAMILY’S IMPRISONMENT AND DISDAIN FOR GENERAL NELSON A. MILES FOLLOWING THE END OF THE CIVIL WAR Reads in part: “I have very gratefully received your kind note with slip enclosed, corroborative of my opinion after being shown Genl. Miles order book which he showed me while I was at the Fort with my Husband…Mr. Davis was taken to prison on the 19th [May 1865], I sailed under sealed orders on the 23d not knowing to what port we were bound, or what was to be our fate, with my four babies—I may have asked Miles to give me what news he could, and he certainly gave me false answers, but I believed him and was willing perhaps to send him thanks, however the date of the note shows that my approval of his course even if he had stated the truth fairly, only extended to four days when he had the best reason to know I could have known nothing of his conduct or of my husband’s condition, and the thanks were personal.” “GENL. MILES ORDER BOOK WHICH SHOWED ME WHILE I WAS AT THE FORT WITH MY HUSBAND…MR. DAVIS WAS TAKEN TO PRISON ON THE 19TH [MAY 1865], I SAILED UNDER SEALED ORDERS ON THE 23RD NOT KNOWING TO WHAT PORT WE WERE BOUND, OR WHAT WAS TO BE OUR FATE, WITH MY FOUR BABIES—I MAY HAVE ASKED MILES TO GIVE ME WHAT NEWS HE COULD, AND HE CERTAINLY GAVE ME FALSE ANSWERS…HE HAD THE BEST REASON TO KNOW I COULD HAVE KNOWN NOTHING OF HIS CONDUCT OR OF MY HUSBAND’S CONDITION” General Miles was commandant of Fort Monroe where Jefferson Davis was held a prisoner for two years. For the remainder of his life, Miles constantly defended himself from accusations that Davis was mistreated and wrongfully imprisoned. Davis’ wife and children were held captive from Georgia to Fort Monroe to Savannah where Varina was placed under house arrest until the end of the summer.

Price: 656.25 USD

Location: Spartanburg, South Carolina

End Time: 2024-12-21T18:05:47.000Z

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