George Custer handwritten letter Mar 14 1865 boasting he could shell Richmond VA

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George Custer handwritten letter Mar 14 1865 boasting he could shell Richmond VA:
$22750.00

GEORGE CUSTERWRITES TO CAVALRY GENERAL WESLEY MERRITT FOUR WEEKS BEFORE APPOMATTOX: “NOTAN ARMED REBEL HAS BEEN SEEN SOUTH OF THE SOUTH ANNA. I WOULD HAVE NO TROUBLEIN GOING WITHIN CANNON RANGE OF RICHMOND”

WESLEY MERRITT (1836-1910). Merritt was a Civil War general who served inthe cavalry. He was second-in-command toSheridan during the Appomattox Campaign and was one of several commissioners atthe Appomattox surrender. He was laterthe Military Governor of the Philippines.

ALS. 1pg. 4” x 6 ½”. March 14, 1865.Headquarters. An autograph letter signed“G A Custer BMG” addressed to General Wesley Merritt. Custer wrote in pencil on yellow paper: “Hdqrs3rd Div Cav Mar 14 / 65 Ground Squirrel Bridge 4:35 PM Genl Merritt Chf of Cav Myadvance is without doubt in Ashland before this time. One detachment of mycommand has been within eleven miles of Richmond on the Ry Road and not anarmed rebel has been seen south of the South Anna. I would have no trouble ingoing within cannon range of Richmond. VeryRespectfully G A Custer B.M.G. [Brevet Major General]”. Custer’s boldness and braggadocio are evidentin this letter. Ground Squirrel Bridgewas a crossing point over the South Anna River.By Custer advancing, he was severing Lee’s supply line, the Richmond,Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad, from the north. General Merritt was Custer’s immediatesuperior and a fellow “Boy General.”Apparently, they had a bit of a competitive rivalry as Custer bragsabout his proximity to the Confederate capital. The paper is thin, there is a chip in the leftmargin that touches two words, and a red penciled “R” on the verso. A terrific piece of Civil War history fromone of the most flamboyant generals ever.

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