![[CIVIL WAR]. BENJAMIN, Judah P. Autograph letter signed ("J.P. Benjamin") to Louisiana Governor Thomas O. Moore (1803-1876), War Dept., C.S.A., Richmond, 13 October 1861. 2 pages, 4to, imprinted stationery.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2003/NYR/2003_NYR_01318_0209_000(070547).jpg?w=1)
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[CIVIL WAR]. BENJAMIN, Judah P. Autograph letter signed ("J.P. Benjamin") to Louisiana Governor Thomas O. Moore (1803-1876), War Dept., C.S.A., Richmond, 13 October 1861. 2 pages, 4to, imprinted stationery.
BENJAMIN PLANS THE DEFENSE OF NEW ORLEANS. AN IMPORTANT WAR-DATE AUTOGRAPH LETTER OF THE CONFEDERATE SECRETARY OF WAR, CONCERNING PLANS FOR THE DEFENSE OF NEW ORLEANS AND ITS IMPORTANT PORT FACILITIES, THREATENED BY A POWERFUL UNION SQUADRON UNDER ADMIRAL FARRAGUT. BENJAMIN ASSURES THE GOVERNOR THAT "I HAVE USED EVERY EFFORT IN MY POWER TO... ALLAY ALL FEARS RELATIVE TO THE DEFENCES OF NEW ORLEANS. MAJOR GENL. MANSFIELD LOVELL, A BRILLIANT, ENERGETIC AND ACCOMPLISHED SOLDIER HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO THE COMMAND OF YOUR DEPARTMENT." SUPPLIES OF POWDER, SALT-PETRE AND CANNON WERE BEING SHIPPED "AS FAST AS THEY CAN BE POSSIBLY SPARED, AND THE RECENT GALLANT DASH OF CAPT. HOLMES AT THE BLOCKADING FLEET MUST HAVE INFUSED NEW LIFE AND SPIRIT INTO OUR PEOPLE." (THE SECRETARY OF WAR REFERS TO THE DRAMATIC ATTACK BY THE MANASSES OVER THREE UNION WARSHIPS ON 11 OCTOBER, TWO DAYS EARLIER.) BENJAMIN PROMISES THAT THE CONFEDERATE GOVERNMENT IS "PROVIDING TO THE UTMOST EXTENT OF ITS ABILITY, SHOES AND CLOTHING FOR OUR TROOPS." BUT HE ADDS A CAREFULLY WORDED CAUTION THAT WHILE "NOTHING I CAN DO SHALL BE LEFT UNDONE FOR THE DEFENSE OF [LOUISIAN]A...YOU WOULD NOT WISH...THAT I SHOULD NEGLECT THE DEFENCES OF OTHER POINTS OF IMPORTANCE IN ORDER TO CONCENTRATE ALL OUR RESOURCES ON N. ORLEANS ALONE."
IN SPITE OF THE BEST EFFORTS OF BENJAMIN, GOVERNOR MOORE AND GENERAL LOVELL, THE BOLD ASSAULT ON NEW ORLEANS BY ADMIRAL FARRAGUT AND GENERAL BUTLER, SIX MONTHS LATER, COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED LOVELL'S DEFENSE, AND THE CIVIL AUTHORITIES WERE FINALLY FORCED TO SURRENDER THE CITY--WHERE BENJAMIN HAD LIVED PRIOR TO THE WAR--TO UNION FORCES ON 1 MAY 1862.
BENJAMIN (1811-1884), BORN IN THE WEST INDIES, WAS RAISED IN SOUTH CAROLINA, ATTENDED YALE UNIVERSITY, THEN BECAME AN INFLUENTIAL LAWYER AND CITIZEN IN NEW ORLEANS. HE WAS ELECTED TO THE U.S. SENATE FROM LOUISIANA, BECOMING THE FIRST AVOWEDLY JEWISH MEMBER OF THAT BODY. HE RESIGNED IN FEBRRUARY 1861 TO BECOME THE CONFEDERATE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT'S ATTORNEY GENERAL, THEN IN SEPTEMBER SUCCEEDED TO THE POST OF SECRETARY OF WAR, AND LATER, IN MARCH 1862, TO THE OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE. FLEEING TO ENGLAND AFTER THE FALL OF THE CONFEDERACY, HE ENJOYED A DISTINGUISHED CAREER AS QUEEN'S COUNSEL AND LEGAL AUTHOR.
BENJAMIN PLANS THE DEFENSE OF NEW ORLEANS. AN IMPORTANT WAR-DATE AUTOGRAPH LETTER OF THE CONFEDERATE SECRETARY OF WAR, CONCERNING PLANS FOR THE DEFENSE OF NEW ORLEANS AND ITS IMPORTANT PORT FACILITIES, THREATENED BY A POWERFUL UNION SQUADRON UNDER ADMIRAL FARRAGUT. BENJAMIN ASSURES THE GOVERNOR THAT "I HAVE USED EVERY EFFORT IN MY POWER TO... ALLAY ALL FEARS RELATIVE TO THE DEFENCES OF NEW ORLEANS. MAJOR GENL. MANSFIELD LOVELL, A BRILLIANT, ENERGETIC AND ACCOMPLISHED SOLDIER HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO THE COMMAND OF YOUR DEPARTMENT." SUPPLIES OF POWDER, SALT-PETRE AND CANNON WERE BEING SHIPPED "AS FAST AS THEY CAN BE POSSIBLY SPARED, AND THE RECENT GALLANT DASH OF CAPT. HOLMES AT THE BLOCKADING FLEET MUST HAVE INFUSED NEW LIFE AND SPIRIT INTO OUR PEOPLE." (THE SECRETARY OF WAR REFERS TO THE DRAMATIC ATTACK BY THE MANASSES OVER THREE UNION WARSHIPS ON 11 OCTOBER, TWO DAYS EARLIER.) BENJAMIN PROMISES THAT THE CONFEDERATE GOVERNMENT IS "PROVIDING TO THE UTMOST EXTENT OF ITS ABILITY, SHOES AND CLOTHING FOR OUR TROOPS." BUT HE ADDS A CAREFULLY WORDED CAUTION THAT WHILE "NOTHING I CAN DO SHALL BE LEFT UNDONE FOR THE DEFENSE OF [LOUISIAN]A...YOU WOULD NOT WISH...THAT I SHOULD NEGLECT THE DEFENCES OF OTHER POINTS OF IMPORTANCE IN ORDER TO CONCENTRATE ALL OUR RESOURCES ON N. ORLEANS ALONE."
IN SPITE OF THE BEST EFFORTS OF BENJAMIN, GOVERNOR MOORE AND GENERAL LOVELL, THE BOLD ASSAULT ON NEW ORLEANS BY ADMIRAL FARRAGUT AND GENERAL BUTLER, SIX MONTHS LATER, COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED LOVELL'S DEFENSE, AND THE CIVIL AUTHORITIES WERE FINALLY FORCED TO SURRENDER THE CITY--WHERE BENJAMIN HAD LIVED PRIOR TO THE WAR--TO UNION FORCES ON 1 MAY 1862.
BENJAMIN (1811-1884), BORN IN THE WEST INDIES, WAS RAISED IN SOUTH CAROLINA, ATTENDED YALE UNIVERSITY, THEN BECAME AN INFLUENTIAL LAWYER AND CITIZEN IN NEW ORLEANS. HE WAS ELECTED TO THE U.S. SENATE FROM LOUISIANA, BECOMING THE FIRST AVOWEDLY JEWISH MEMBER OF THAT BODY. HE RESIGNED IN FEBRRUARY 1861 TO BECOME THE CONFEDERATE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT'S ATTORNEY GENERAL, THEN IN SEPTEMBER SUCCEEDED TO THE POST OF SECRETARY OF WAR, AND LATER, IN MARCH 1862, TO THE OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE. FLEEING TO ENGLAND AFTER THE FALL OF THE CONFEDERACY, HE ENJOYED A DISTINGUISHED CAREER AS QUEEN'S COUNSEL AND LEGAL AUTHOR.