[CIVIL WAR]. SEDDON, James Alexander (1815-1880). Autograph letter signed ("J. A. Seddon"), as Confederate States Secretary of War, to P. G. T. BEAUREGARD. Richmond, VA, 8 January 1865.

1 page, 4to, on an onionskin sheet, portion of upper margin and right margin torn away, soiled.

THE CONFEDERATE SECRETARY OF WAR URGES BEAUREGARD NOT TO FURLOUGH TROOPS

In full: "Repress by all means the proposition to furlough the Trans-Mississippi troops. The suggestion merely is dangerous. Compliance would probably be fatal. Extinguish if possible the idea."

Less than a month before he resigned his post as Secretary of War and with the Confederate military situation rapidly deteriorating, Seddon orders Beauregard, then at Selma, Alabama not to allow any troops to be furloughed. Having recently been given command of the West, Beauregard was en-route to meet the remnants of Hood's army after its retreat from Tennessee. He reached Tupelo where the army had assembled and viewed what was left of Hood's command on 15 January 1865. The once proud Army of Tennessee was reduced to one corps fit for action. He did not have to ask for Hood's command; Hood asked to be relieved, and Beauregard replaced him with Taylor. Less than a month following this communication, Seddon would resign his post as well. John C. Breckinridge replaced Seddon and held the post through the end of the war.

Property from the James Milgram, M.D., Collection of Broadsides, Ephemeral Americana, and Historical Documents