American Historical Ephemera and Photography

A letter from POW and Assistant Surgeon James. C. Green, 5th Virginia Cavalry, to his relative, US Acting Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Rowe Smith, Jr. Balfour Hospital, Portsmouth, Virginia. 9 September 1863.

2pp, approx. 8 x 10 in. (creasing at folds, scattered spotting, light soil). Docketed on verso, in the hand of Smith: "Dr. J.C. Green / Prisoner of War / Sept 1863 / Expresses his sense of obligation &c."

Dr. Green writes to Smith from the Union's Balfour Hospital in Portsmouth indicating that his health is improving and he "shall be ready to take the field whenever [Smith's] government may see fit to set me at liberty." Green continues stating that the doctors who cared for him made his stay as pleasant as possible, winning his respect even though they were enemies. The Confederate surgeon closes asking Smith to pass on his love to Smith's wife, a relative of Green's, and expressing his hope for the future: "I sincerely hope that we may soon be able to meet in peace but rather expect we would take way different views of the terms of adjustment. If the war should last a century however I shall not forget the debt of gratitude which I owe you all."

Dr. James Colquhoun Green (1838-1884) was a Confederate soldier who entered the war as a private in 1861 and rose through the ranks to become an assistant surgeon. He is listed as captured on 12/24/1862 at Dumfries, VA, and entered the Old Capitol Prison in Washington, DC. In July 1863, due to the intervention of Acting Surgeon General Smith, Green was moved and admitted as a patient and prisoner of war at Balfour Hospital. Upon the recovery of his health Green was moved again to military prisons in Maryland and Virginia before finally being returned to his regiment, the 5th VA Cavalry. Green was related to Smith's wife, Claramond Colquhoun Cleeman Smith, via his mother Anne Colquhoun.

Brigadier General Joseph Rowe Smith, Jr. (1831-1911) was a graduate of the University of Michigan and University of Buffalo medical school. He entered the army in 1854 serving in the Indian Wars, and entered the service of the United States as an assistant surgeon in 1861. Smith was briefly a POW in Texas in May 1861 before being exchanged. By July 1863 he was Acting Surgeon General and in 1865 became Surgeon General and Medical Director US Army. 

Though Smith is not identified by name as the intended recipient of the letter, additional research locates another letter from Green to Smith thanking "Dr. Smith" for his kindness in having him transferred and noting that the conditions at Balfour are much better than at his previous place of confinement. A unique and rare Confederate surgeon's letter that demonstrates the ways in which the Civil War divided families, and how personal connections could be utilized to improve one's fate.

[With:] Partly printed muster roll for Captain Joel W. Strong's Co. D, 22nd Regiment of Missouri Volunteers, from 1 March 1862 to 30 April 1862. Hickman, Kentucky. Signed by Strong as commander of the company. 30 x 21 in. (large portions separated along folds, adhesive repair, toning, ink very faint in places).

Identifies commissioned and non-commissioned officers of the regiment along with 2 musicians, 70 privates, and deserter Daniel McLaughlin. "Record of Events" notes that upon arrival in Kentucky the regiment "unfurled the Northern ensign which had not been seen since the breaking out of the Rebellion." The regiment was enroute to Shiloh, and then to the Siege of Corinth.

[With:] An assortment of war-date documents, including two from the Provost Marshal's office, a letter from the War Department demanding to know why the Provost Marshal made an arrest, and a pass issued by the Military Governor of District of Washington allowing a British observer to pass by bridge and ferry to and from Virginia. 

[With:] Two partly printed and unused US Army documents, and the Grand Army of the Republic's 1887 "Hand-Book of Battles in the War of the Rebellion."

[With:] CALHOUN, Captain Patrick Shields Calhoun (1821-1858). Autograph letter signed ("Patrick"), addressed to his father Senator John C. Calhoun in Washington, D.C. New Orleans, Louisiana. 19 December 1845.

3pp, 8 x 10 in. with New Orleans cancellation and free frank (ink heavily faded in some portions and difficult to read, scattered tears and small losses affecting text, adhesive repair).

An informative letter from son to father, including discussion of President Polk's 2 December 1845 annual address which defined the Polk Doctrine and Senator Calhoun's committee assignments. He writes in part: "Mr. Polk's message did not create much excitement here - that is not so much as was anticipated. The opinion regarding it is very varied... as it becomes better known and more thoroughly read comment is more severe and many more say that it is indefinite on some points, .and that the President says nothing about putting our country in a state of defence.... " Later the younger Calhoun states, "Much astonishment is felt and expressed that Mr. Allen should be put at the head of the 'Committee on foreign relations' instead of yourself .... "

Captain Patrick Calhoun was an 1841 graduate of West Point. He served with the 2nd US Dragoons including on the western frontier in Texas. He experienced bouts of illness, and died in 1858 at Pendleton, South Carolina.

[Also with:] 7 issues of the Niles Weekly Register, including: Vol. IX, No. 3. Baltimore, MD: H. Niles, 16 September 1815. 144, octavo, featuring President Madison's proclamation warning against attacks by organized groups from within Louisiana into the Spanish provinces. -- Vol. II, No.11. Baltimore, MD: H., Niles, 9 May 1818. 16pp, octavo, with a letter from Gen. William McIntosh related to the Creek Wars; Vol. III, No. 5. Baltimore, MD: H. Niles, 26 September 1818. 14pp, octavo, with discussion on possible US evacuation of Spanish posts in Florida; Vol. III, No. 9. Baltimore, MD: H. Niles, 24 October 1818. 14pp, octavo, with a listing of early steamboats on the Mississippi Rover; Vol. IV, No. 23. Baltimore, MD: H. Niles, 31 July 1819. 14pp, octavo, a small article from Texas stating that the small patriot army has crossed the Sabine River into Texas and hoisted their standard; Vol. IV, No. 24. Baltimore, MD: H. Niles, 7 August 1819. 14pp, octavo, with account of the trial of the crew of the privateer Creola; Vol. V, No. 18. Baltimore, MD: H. Niles, 1 January 1820. 14pp, octavo, with reports of the defeat and capture of General James Long's army, US negotiations with Spain for the release of peaceful American settlers. Papers disbound, with heavy toning, spotting/staining, some chipping.