Details
[CIVIL WAR]. DAVIS, JEFFERSON, 1808-1889, President, C.S.A. Letter signed ("Jeffer Davis") as Secretary of War, to Representative J. Vansant, Washington, D.C., 8 March 1854. 1 1/2 pages, 4to. Very fine.
SECRETARY OF WAR DAVIS ON PERCUSSION MUSKETS
An exceptionally attractive letter in an ornate secretarial hand. Secretary Davis gives a lengthy explanation as to why he cannot oblige a political colleague: "...[U]pon enquiry at the Ordnance Bureau, I find that since I have had charge of the [War] Department that there have been three issues of new percussion muskets made upon the authority of the Chief of Ordnance, but witout my knowledge or consent. It appears that my predecessor [Charles M. Conrad] gave authority for their issue in a special case, which was construed by Col. Craig to authorize the same when similar requisitions should be made. Upon further reflection Col. Craig became satisfied that he had misconstrued the order; and that it did not extend beyond the special case. I have never authorized the issue in a single instance, and was not aware, until the report of the Ordnance Bureau made a few days since, that any of the new percussion muskets had been issued to any but U.S. troops...It would afford me much pleasure to gratify your wishes [for these new muskets] if a sense of duty did not forbid me to do so..."
The future President of the Confederate States served as Secretary of War in the administration of Franklin Pierce, from 1853 until 1857.
SECRETARY OF WAR DAVIS ON PERCUSSION MUSKETS
An exceptionally attractive letter in an ornate secretarial hand. Secretary Davis gives a lengthy explanation as to why he cannot oblige a political colleague: "...[U]pon enquiry at the Ordnance Bureau, I find that since I have had charge of the [War] Department that there have been three issues of new percussion muskets made upon the authority of the Chief of Ordnance, but witout my knowledge or consent. It appears that my predecessor [Charles M. Conrad] gave authority for their issue in a special case, which was construed by Col. Craig to authorize the same when similar requisitions should be made. Upon further reflection Col. Craig became satisfied that he had misconstrued the order; and that it did not extend beyond the special case. I have never authorized the issue in a single instance, and was not aware, until the report of the Ordnance Bureau made a few days since, that any of the new percussion muskets had been issued to any but U.S. troops...It would afford me much pleasure to gratify your wishes [for these new muskets] if a sense of duty did not forbid me to do so..."
The future President of the Confederate States served as Secretary of War in the administration of Franklin Pierce, from 1853 until 1857.