Archives International Auctions Auction 85 May 23, 2023

Archives International Auctions - Sale 85 87 April 4, 2023 Archives International Auctions www.archivesinternational.com EPHEMERA - HISTORIC LOUISIANA MILITARY CORRESPONDENCE Louisiana 443 443 Battle of Orleans, during the War of 1812, Letter dated 1815 Referring to and Signed by Colonel Dyer during the Battle Camp Coffin, Louisiana, February 9th, 1815. Hand written letter from John Dickson, regiment quartermaster, regarding a horse being shot out from under their Colonel, Robert H. Dyer of the Tennessee Volunteers. Dickson writes “I do hereby certify that Col. H. Dyer of Genl. John Coffins Brigade of Tennessee Volunteers mounted gun men has his horse killed under him, on the night of the 23rd of December 1814 in a Battle with his Britanick Majsty’s forces six miles below N. Orleans which horse, was in value worth $150...” According the notations on the back of the letter, Dyer recieved $150 for his horse and he signed in acknowledgment of his payment. The Battle of New Orleans was fought on January 8, 1815 between the British Army under Major General Sir Edward Pakenham and the United States Army under Brevet Major General Andrew Jackson. The battle was the climax of the five-month Gulf Campaign (September 1814 to February 1815) by Britain to try to take New Orleans, West Florida, and possibly Louisiana Territory which began at the First Battle of Fort Bowyer. Britain started the New Orleans campaign on December 14, 1814, at the Battle of Lake Borgne and numerous skirmishes and artillery duels happened in the weeks leading up to the final battle. The battle took place 15 days after the signing of the Treaty of Ghent, which formally ended the War of 1812, on December 24, 1814, though it would not be ratified by the United States (and therefore did not take effect) until February 16, 1815, as news of the agreement had not yet reached the United States from Europe. Despite a large British advantage in numbers, training, and experience, the American forces defeated a poorly executed assault in slightly more than 30 minutes. The Americans suffered just 71 casualties, while the British suffered over 2,000, including the deaths of the commanding general, Major General Sir Edward Pakenham, and his second-in-command, Major General Samuel Gibbs. Colonel Robert Henry Dyer was Lt. Colonel of a regiment known as the “Tennessee Mounted Gunmen” when he entered the New Orleans Campaign with his servant Mat and his brother William as Adjutant. It would be at New Orleans that Dyer would gain lasting fame. He participated in the night attack against the British on December 23, 1814. While trying to get back to friendly lines with his subordinate, Lieutenant Colonel Gibson, “they ran into a body of British, who fired upon them; his wound was slight; when he fell he was pinned to the ground by a bayonet, which pierced his clothes. He worked himself loose, sprang to his feet and made his escape.” Soon after this close call, he injured his thigh when his horse fell dead upon the field. Dyer soon recovered and was recommended for a promotion by General Jackson for his participation in the New Orleans defense. The letter is also signed by Major General Robert Butler who was an American military officer and acting governor of East Florida between 10 July 1821 and 11 July 1821, after Florida was ceded to the United States by Spain. He also served with distinction in the War of 1812 as Jackson’s adjutant. The letter is in Very Good condition with some losses to the edges and has been preserved through Silking. �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������Est. $2000-4000 EPHEMERA - HISTORIC SOUTH & CENTRAL AMERICA DOCUMENTS England 444 444 New Granada Waste Land Certificate, 1861 Certificate of Subscription London, England.16 September, 1861. I/U Subscription certificate for 160 Hectares for certificate # 5783, Black on blue paper with ornate counterfoil design at left, back with additional information about the certificate and a list of the members of the New Granada Land Committee, Signed by Isidor Gerstenberg, R.F. Gowler and H. Schirges as member of the committee. Certificate #92, XF condition. New Granada included parts of Colombia, Panama, Ecuador and Venezuela. In 1543, New Granada referred to the parts of South America held by Spain. After liberation from Spanish rule in 1819-22, New Granada, Venezuela and Ecuador merged to form the Republic of Greater Colombia. After violent civil wars, this republic also collapsed. In 1861 New Granada was a loose confederation. These certificates were used to recruit people who should settle and farm the barren land. ������������������������������������������������������������������� Est. $60-120 EPHEMERA - LOUISIANA TERRITORY DOCUMENTS Missouri (Early Louisiana Territory) 445 445 Early Louisiana Territory, May 4th, 1807, Summons for John H. Wright to Appear in Court District of Cape Girardeau, In Our Territory of Louisiana, (Now part of Missouri), May 4th, 1807. Hand written Summons for John H. Wright to appear before the Court of the District of Cape Girardeau as a witness to an alleged assault. “The United States of America, to John H. Wright: greeting We command and firmly injoin you that laying all other matters aside and notwithstanding any excuse you be in your proper reason before our Justices assigned to keep our peace in our district of Cape Girardeau in our Territory of Louisiana and also to have and determine... felonious trespasses and other misdeeds in our said district... to testify all and singular what you know concerning a certain assault and battery in and upon one John Gaster ~~~ where of William H. Ashley is indicted, on our part, and this you are not to omit nor depart our said court without leave under the penalty of $300.” The summons is signed “Winess Christopher Hays First Justice of our said court at Cape Girardeau aforesaid the fourth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seven... Joseph McFerron, Prothonotary.” Although no information about the assault is available, both Justice Hays and the prothonotary (clerk) McFerron have interesting back stories. Christopher Hayes was a Colonel during the Revolutionary War and some sources claim he crossed the Delaware River with George Washington before the Battle of Trenton on December 26th 1776. On March 19th, 1805, the District Court of Cape Girardeau appointed Hays one of the original justices by President Thomas Jefferson and his son, John Hays, was appointed Sheriff. Joseph McFerron was first appointed as Postmaster in 1806 and an appointment as courts clerk followed, a position he held for much of the rest of his life. McFerron, however, is most known for his duel with businessman William Ogle in 1807, Ogle was the first licensed tavernkeeper west of the Mississippi. McFerron apparently cast aspersions on Ogle’s wife, and the resulting disagreement ended with McFerron challenging Ogle. The duel on Cypress Island opposite Cape Girardeau ended with McFerron wounded in the thigh and Ogle killed by a head wound. McFerron resigned his office, but the citizenry insisted he continue. McFerron became a delegate to the Missouri Constitutional Convention, and afterward a representative to the first General Assembly. He resigned in November 1820, possibly due to illness. Alexander Buckner wrote of McFerron, “…in McFerron’s grave is buried the Statesman, the Lawyer, the Clerk, the Philosopher, the Poet, the accomplished Scholar, and the virtuous man.” McFerron even married a ward of Col. Hays, Eve Tyler. Document is in XF condition and gives an early look at love and politics in the Louisiana Territory. ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������Est. $1250-2000