American Historical Ephemera & Photography

1 page, 12 x 7 1/4 in., folds, with some toning to folds, soiling, light edge wear, fading and wear to some inked notes. 

Manuscript document involving a request for transfer submitted by Robert & Charles Latham, Company H, 4th Virginia Cavalry. First panel signed by A.D. Payne, Lt. Com'g. Co. H, Camp 4th Virginia Cavalry, 17 November 1863. Payne writes, "Robert & Chas. Latham...asks for a transfer to Maj. Mosby's Independent Command. Under the peculiar circumstances of the case approved and respectfully forwarded." 

The document is "Respectfully forwarded. Disapproved 'in toto.' If this is granted there would be no end to such applications as Maj. Mosby's service is so much more attractive than the regular Service. Details are granted to men in this Regiment for limited periods to go in the enemy's lines & remount themselves. Many men in Co. 'H' have stronger claims to transfers to Capt. Smith's Company (Mosby's Com.) as he has many kinsmen in that company. Capt. Smith's resignation as Lt. o. 'H' has not yet been accepted." Signed by Robert Randolph, Capt. Comd. 4th Va. Cav.

The document continues with the following endorsements/disapprovals:

Headquarters Nickham's Brig., 19 November 1863, and is respectfully forwarded and signed by Thomas T. Munford, Col. Comdg. Brig.

Headquarters Lee's Cavalry, 20 November 1863. Respectfully forwarded, disapproved (with "dis" crossed out) and signed by Fitz Lee as Major General Commanding.

Headquarters Cavalry Corps, 23 November 1863. Respectfully forwarded, disapproved (underlined), with additional comment, "I regard Capt. Randolph's remarks as just and proper," signed by J.E.B. Stuart as Major General. 

24 November 1863. Respectfully forwarded, with question posed, "Are the troops of Maj. Mosby's command regarded by the Dept. as Paritzans [sic] or regulars" Signed by W.A. Taylor, AAG, "For Genl. R.E. Lee." 

Followed by, "Resp'y returned to Genl. R.E. Lee Commanding. There are but two rolls of Colonel Mosby's Command on file. - They are understood to be Partizan [sic] Rangers. - Lt. Col. Mosby's appointment." 

With a separate panel originally glued over the bottom section of the larger document's panel, 12 December 1863, which reads, "Respectfully returned to General R.E. Lee. Major Mosby's appointment is to command Partizan [sic] Rangers. There are but two rolls of his command on file; they are understood to be Partizans [sic]." Signed by Ed. A. Palfrey as Lt. Col. & AAG, by Order of the A. & I.G. 

Section below separate panel, Headquarters A. Va., 16 December 1863. "Res. Retd. through Genl. Stuart disapproved transfer from troop of regular service to partizan [sic] troops prohibited by existing orders," signed by W.A. Taylor, AAG, by order of General Lee. 

Robert Latham enlisted on 4/15/1863 as a private and mustered into Co. H, 4th Virginia Cavalry. He was listed as absent 3/1/1863 ("absent for horse" as per HDS), and arrested 4/1/1864 (place not stated). Like Robert, Charles P. Latham enlisted on 4/15/1863 as a private and mustered into Co. H, 4th Virginia Cavalry. He was listed as POW 11/10/1863 Warrenton Springs, VA, confined 12/12/1863 Old Capitol Prison, Washington, DC, confined 2/3/1864 Point Lookout, MD, exchanged 5/3/1864 (place not stated), hospitalized 5/8/1864 Chimborazo Hospl, Richmond, VA (debility), and paroled 5/4/1865 Winchester, VA.