Lot 1938
Confederacy, "April 13, 1861" Surrender of Fort Sumter, dated framed ALS letter signed "W.D. Simpson" on the staff of General Milledge Luke Bonham at Fort Sumter, reading "April 13, 1860, I write to inform you that Beauregard has taken Fort Sumpter. Maj. Anderson surrendered today at 2' c'clock. The Northern steamers tried to run in but they saw such a welcome of cannon balls that they concluded that it was a bad job and left. The last news said that there were three of our men wounded slitly. Yours, W.D. Simson", framed with three Fort Sumter engravings before and during the bombardment, Very Fine.Estimate $500 - 750.
William D. Simpson (1823-1890) was a legislator, judge and South Carolina governor. In 1860 Simpson owned thirty-one slaves employed on his landholdings in Laurens District. During the 1850s, he served two nonconsecutive terms in the South Carolina House of Representatives. In 1860 he was elected senator from Laurens District and served until 1863. When war broke out, he was on the staff of General Milledge Luke Bonham and participated in the siege of Fort Sumter and the First Battle of Manassas. Returning to South Carolina, he helped organize the 14th South Carolina Infantry and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He saw action at Seven Days, the Second Battle of Manassas, and Antietam. Upon winning a special election to the Confederate Congress in 1862, he resigned his commission and his state Senate seat. He was reelected and served until the end of the war.
Complete images:
View gallery or Download PDF (3.3MB)
Realized: $2,100