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Stone, Charles Pomeroy, 1824-1887 to my dear Tucker

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05052 Author/Creator: Stone, Charles Pomeroy, 1824-1887 Place Written: Cairo, Illinois Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 4 May 1864 Pagination: Order a Copy

Reports arriving in Cairo by steamer two days before. Discusses his reputation in the aftermath of the ill-fated Red River Campaign, during which he served as commanding General Nathaniel P. Banks's Chief of Staff. Mentions travelling with Thomas Edward Greenfield Ransom, who was severely injured during the campaign in the Battle of Sabine Cross Roads. Relates that Ransom's recovery is remarkable. Writes "This Cairo is rather a miserable uncomfortable place... The order reducing me to Colonel met me here. It is rather rough to come back after three years since to point where I started in 1861.. On arriving up river, we found out by the papers that 'the really responsible man for the Red River defeat is 'General Stone of Balls Bluff fame!' Is not that pretty good? and is it not well to have good broad shoulders, wide enough to take on all the defects and defeats that may come along?" Remarks sarcastically that some newspapers blame him and General William Buel Franklin for the Union failure during the Red River Campaign. 1 black and white bust engraving of Stone included.

Stone, Charles Pomeroy, 1824-1887
Ransom, Thomas Edwin Greenfield, 1834-1864
Banks, Nathaniel Prentiss, 1816-1894
Franklin, William Buel, 1823-1903

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