Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Wise, Henry A., 1806-1876 to Arnold Elzey

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00662 Author/Creator: Wise, Henry A., 1806-1876 Place Written: Richmond, Virginia Type: Letter signed Date: January 14, 1863 Pagination: 3 p. : docket ; Height: 25 cm, Width: 20 cm Order a Copy

Retained copy of a letter to Elzey on which a pencil signature of Wise has been added by a secretary. General Wise (Confederate) describes a recent Union raid near White House, Virginia. He informs Major General Elzey, commander of the Department of Richmond, that during the raid, Union troops stole thirty cattle from William P. Taylor's farm. He discusses coordination with Colonel Tabb (possibly William B. Tabb) and Captain Wynn at locations such as Bush's Mill, N. Kent Court House, and the wharves at West Point in order to prevent further raids. He states "all the slaves of abandoned estates and all the free Negroes below the White House will have to be removed-- I ask your orders to move them all up to Richmond-- especially the fifty of Mr. Wm. P. Taylor at West Point. They and the free Negroes at Indian Town are positively dangerous to all that section of county and endanger every Military operation." He asks that Elzey authorize the replacement of the telegraph line from Richmond to White House and from White House to N. Kent Court House. He requests the employment of couriers and operators between various points. Letter signed in pencil.

Wise, Henry Alexander, 1806-1876
Elzey, Arnold, 1816-1871
Taylor, William P., fl. 1863
Tabb, William Barksdale, 1840-1874
Davidson, John Wynn, 1825-1881

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources