CIVIL WAR CONFEDERATE RAILROADS VA COLONEL ENGINEER GARNETT NAVY LETTER SIGNED!

Description

Here’s an Autograph Letter Signed by Distinguished Confederate States Virginia Colonel, Railroad Construction Engineer re President Davis’ and General Lee’s Doctor
!
COL. CHARLES FENTON MERCER GARNETT
(1810 – 1886)
CIVIL WAR CONFEDERATE STATES “COMMISSIONER FOR COLLECTING RAILROAD IRON” and COLONEL IN THE CSA
ENGINEER BUREAU
- ONE OF
2
MEMBERS OF THE CONFEDERATE COMMISSION APPOINTED FOR THE REMOVAL, DISTRIBUTION AND PRIORITY RE-USE OF RAILROAD IRON NEEDED FOR THE CSA WAR EFFORT,
ANTEBELLUM CHIEF ENGINEER OF BRAZIL’S “
DOM PEDRO II RAILROAD”
- THE FIRST RAILROAD IN BRAZIL 1856-1859,
CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE VIRGINIA and TENNESSEE RAILROAD COMPANY (CA. 1850S),
CHIEF ENGINEER FOR THE STATE OF GEORGIA,
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
and CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE WESTERN AND ATLANTIC RAILROAD COMPANY
DURING THE RAILROAD’S EARLY CONSTRUCTION EFFORTS
(
JAN. 1842-DEC. 1847)
-&-
CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE NASHVILLE & CHATTANOOGA RAILROAD 1848-1849, THE MEMPHIS AND CHARLESTON RAILROAD, and CHIEF ENGINEER FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE RALEIGH AND GASTON RAILROAD COMPANY (CA.1830-40s),
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HERE's AN AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED BY GARNETT ON THE INTEGRAL LEAF OF A STAMPLESS FOLDED LETTER COVER,
1
p., DATED MAY 7
th
,
1841
, RECOMMENDING HIS COUSIN DR. ALEXANDER YP GARNETT
*
(1819-1888), AS A SURGEON IN THE NAVY
TO
GEORGE R. BADGER
(1795 - 1866)
US SECRETARY OF THE NAVY APPOINTED BY PRESIDENT WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON-SERVING IN 1841, US SENATOR 1846-1855, and CIVIL WAR
UNIONIST DURING THE SECESSION CRISIS BUT THEREAFTER SUPPORTED THE CONFEDERACY!
*
ALEXANDER YP GARNETT (1819-1888) WAS A VERY IMPORTANT CSA PHYSICIAN, MEMBER OF THE EXAMINING BOARD OF SURGEONS, CSA, and SERVED AS DOCTOR TO PRESIDENT DAVIS, HIS CABINET, GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE’S and OTHER GENERALS DURING THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES
!
The document measures 8” x 10” and is in very fine condition for its advanced age.
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BIOGRAPHY OF CHARLES F. M. GARNETT
Charles Fenton Mercer Garnett
was born October 7, 1810 in Essex County, Virginia. He was the Chief Engineer for the construction of the Raleigh & Gaston RR, selecting and laying out the route, then supervising the construction from 1836 until completion. He was Superintendent for a year or so. On February 7, 1842 he took over the Chief Engineer's position on the Western & Atlantic RR. He selected the location for the depot for the southern terminal and then selected the name Marthasville for what eventually became Atlanta. 1848 and 1849 found Garnett the Chief Engineer of the Nashville & Chattanooga RR. In 1850, he was Chief Engineer of the Virginia & Tennessee RR when, on April 29th, he was selected Chief Engineer for the Memphis & Charleston RR. He conducted a preliminary reconnaissance of the route and announced it at a meeting in Tuscumbia, Alabama. From 1856 through 1859, he was the Chief Engineer of the Dom Pedro II RR, the first railroad in Brazil.
Garnett was 51 when the Civil War started. He was living with the family of a probable brother, Theodore L., a farmer north of Richmond, in Hanover County. Charles was worth ,000 in real estate and ,000 in personal estate (probably shares of stock in the railroads he had constructed).
His railroad experience was called on when it became necessary for someone to determine which railroad iron should be removed from some roads and given to more important roads. He was made a member of the Commission to Collect and Distribute Iron (in the Engineer Bureau) and shortly became its main member, since he was the only one who did not have another job in the Army. In 1863, his office in Richmond was located at the corner of Bank and 10th Streets, on the 3rd floor.
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Garnett
, Charles Fenton Mercer
(d. 1886), the son of James Garnett and Mary Eleanor Dick who was a sister of Charles Fenton Mercer, first president of the C&O Canal Co. (1828 1833). Garnett was apparently a rodman on the C&O canal. He was a graduate of the University of Virginia and became “a distinguished civil engineer” according to the Genealogy of the Mercer-Garnett Family of Essex County, Virginia (p. 13 and p. 30). Online sources document his position as chief engineer of the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad in 1840; of the Western & Atlantic Railroad Jan., 1842-Dec., 1847; and of the Memphis & Charles ton Railroad, concerning which he authored a report dated Jan. 15, 1851. In 1853 a report was issued under his name as chief engineer for the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad but he is also reported in this year to be engineer for the state of Georgia, and was in Brazil from 1856-1859 as chief engineer of the Dom Pedro II railroad (said to be “the principle railroad at that time in Brazil”). In 1863 he was “commissioner for collecting railroad iron” for the Confederacy (see OR, Series 1, Vol. 30, Part 4, Page 496). In an 1835 quote he speaks for the importance of an engineer to have “a turn for mathematics and a good store of mathematical knowledge.” The source providing this quote refers to him as “a well-known antebellum engineer”. (p. 9, Dissertations in American Economic History, by
Terry Mark Aldrich, 1970). A street named Garnett in Atlanta was said to have been named after him. He is referred to as Colonel Charles F. M. Garnett in a book titled Brazil and Brazilians by Kidder and Fletcher published in 1857. His grave is in Union Cemetery, Leesburg, VA.
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BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES:
Some Civil War Correspondence
March 17th 1862
In regard to impressment of slaves in Hanover Co. Suggests that the belt of country between Richmond & Fredericksburg must be relied upon for supplies, and if this impressment be made, the crop will be reduced one third. Asks consideration of the subject.
Ch. F. M. Garnett (to Hon. R. M. T. Hunter)
QMG O. Mar. 18th 1862
Respectfully submitted to the Secretary of War for his instructions.
A. C. Myers Q. M. Genl.
Entry in Quartermaster General's Letters Received Register
Richmond, April 19th 1862
Honble Geo W. Randolph
Secretary of War
Sir,
Mr Walter Isard is an applicant for an appointment in the Engineer Corps. He served under me as a Civil Engineer for many years, and I cordially recommend him either as a Lieut or Captain of Engineers
Respectfully
Your ob Sevt
Chas. F. M. Garnett
Engineer Bureau
Richmond, June 2d 1863
Col. Chas. F. M. Garnett
Hanover Junction, Va.
Please come to Richmond without delay. Captain George E. Walker has arrived.
J. F. Gilmer
Col. of Engr. & Chf of Bureau
Misc. NOTES:
In 1863, Charles F. M. Garnett was “commissioner for collecting railroad iron” for the Confederacy (see OR, Series 1, Vol. 30, Part 4, Page 496). In an 1835 quote he speaks for the importance of an engineer to have “a turn for mathematics and a good store of mathematical knowledge.” The source providing this quote refers to him as “a well-known antebellum engineer”.
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In 1844, Garnett was a lay delegate to the Episcopal Church General Convention, in Philadelphia. He never married and died March 6, 1886 in Norfolk, Virginia.
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Prior to the summer of 1842 the locality of the present
down-town Atlanta was for a short time known as
Terminus, or the terminus, from the fact that the pro-
jected railroads from. Augusta, Macon and Chattanooga
were to meet, by law, at "some point not exceeding
eight miles" from the southeastern bank of the
Chattahoochee river. On July 11 of that year the exact
site of the depot was selected, a few streets were laid
out, and the place was given the name of Marthasville
by
Charles F. M. Garnett, chief engineer of the W. & A
.
Railroad. Due to the efforts of Richard Peters, the name
Marthasville was changed to .Atlanta, which was a
coined word suggested by J. Edgar Thomson, chief
engineer of the Georgia Railroad, in De-cember 1845.
Source: Excerpt from “EARLY HISTORY OF MEDICINE IN ATLANTA” By Frank K. Boland, M.D
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THE RALEIGH & GASTON RAILROAD
Originally, North Carolina’s first railroad, the
Wilmington & Raleigh Railroad, was to go to Raleigh
from Wilmington. When Wilmington investors were
shunned by the Raleigh business community, the Wilmington
group changed the course to go to Weldon and connect with
the Portsmouth and Roanoke Railroad. With this change, in
1835 railroad supporters in Raleigh pushed the North Carolina
General Assembly to pass an act to incorporate the Raleigh &
Gaston Railroad. The purpose of this was to construct a
railroad from Raleigh to a point at or near the Wilkins Ferry on
the Roanoke River now called Gaston. This allowed for a
connection with the Petersburg Railroad.
George W. Mordecai was made president of the company. He
hired
Charles F.M.
Garnett
as engineer
and Moncure Robinson
of Philadelphia as consulting engineer. Mr. Garnett formed his
engineering company and began surveying several routes.
Much time was consumed convincing property owners their
land would be more valuable after the railroad came instead of
their fear it would be worth less
Excerpt: Page 14 SPRING 2011 NCPHS Postal Historian
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Americans were also heavily involved in the railroads necessary to get cotton to the seaports. A Philadelphia company began building Brazil’s Dom Pedro II (Central do Brazil) Railroad in 1857. The tracks ran from Rio de Janeiro to a coffee plantation district about 300 miles inland. The railroad’s first section, 40 miles in length, opened in June 1858.
Col. Charles F. M.
Garnett
, a Virginian,
supervised its construction.6 American manufacturers furnished much of the rolling stock on the Brazilian railroads. Cars were made by T. W. Wason & Company in Springfield, Massachusetts, and the locomotives that hauled them were products of the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia.
Source: Excerpt from “SEEDS OF DESTRUCTION:
THE GLOBALIZATION OF COTTON AS A RESULT OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR by RICKY-DALE CALHOUN (2012)
The report
gives interesting biographical sketches of several of the
De Bellot
,
Bros
. & Company, showing their high position, the evidence heretofore furnished by
M.
Paul
, French Consul in this city, and other information highly favorable to the contracting party. Among the proofs furnished by the report on this point, we find the following letters —
the first two from gentlemen well known to our readers as two of the first engineers
of
Virginia
, and the other from
M.
Mercier
, the
French Minister
in
Washington
.
"Georgetown, D. C., Dec. 13, 1860.
Dear sir:
Since I last wrote to you, I have had conversations with
Mr.
Mercer
, the
French Minister
, on the subject of your negotiations with the Messrs.
Bellot
, and the interest taken in their enterprise by his Government.
"A good deal to my surprise,
Mr.
Mercier
told me, yesterday, that he had received communications from his Government, showing a very warm interest in the project, and expressed his own entire confidence in the ability of those parties in
France
who sustain the Messrs.
Bellot
, though he is not himself personally acquainted with these gentlemen.
"
Mr.
Mercier
was very decided and unreserved in his communications, and promised to show me the documents which he has received, as soon as they are returned to him from his office in
Washington
.
"You will have seen evidences of the doubts which I have entertained in regard to the ability of the association to fulfill their engagements with you. I think it due both to them and to you, therefore, that I should give you also this pointed confirmation of their pretensions.
* * * * *
"I remain, dear sir, very truly yours,
"
Charles
Elliot
. Jr."
"
Col.
Thomas H.
Ellis
, &c., &c,. &c"
I read also the following letter addressed to me by
Col. Charles F. M.
Garnett
, formerly
Chief Engineer
of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. and more recently of the
Don Pedro
, the second Railroad in
Brazil
:
"
Richmond
. Jan. 18, 1861.
"Dear sir:
At your request, I state to you in writing what I said to you yesterday.
"While I was in
Washington
, the
French Minister
,
Mr.
Mercier
, said to
Messrs.
Hunter
and
Garnett
the following, in substance:
"That the
French Emperor
had instructed him to give to the scheme of
Mr. De
Bellot
all the moral aid possible, and to say to parties Interested, that
Mr. De
Bellot
is fully responsible for, and able to perform, all that he undertakes.
"I am, very respectfully.
"Your friend and ob't serv't.
"
Chas. F. M.
Garnett
."
Washington
. Jan. 21, 1861.
"Sir: In reply to the letter which you did me the honor to address me, under date of 18th instant, I take much pleasure in informing you that my Government has instructed me to lend as much moral support as is compatible with the reserve imposed by my official position to the
Canal
scheme of the house of
Bellot
des Minieres,
Bros
. & Company, which is now before the Legislature of Virginia for its sanction. This is proof, sir, not only of the interest felt by my Government in the realization of this enterprise, but of the confidence with which the persons who control the measure inspire it in every respect; otherwise the
Government
would not lend a support which it is not in the habit of grating for light and trivial reasons.
"
Mr.
Paul
, the
French Consul
at
Richmond
, will be able to lay before you documents which will show that the
Government
has not taken this step without first collecting the most exact information with reference to the enterprise.
"I avail myself of this occasion to assure you of my distinguished consideration.
"
Henry
Mercier
.
"
Mr.
Ellis
,
President
, &c."
We presume these letters, not only that from
Messrs.
Ellett
and
Garnett
, detailing conversations with the
French Minister
, but the last one above given from that high functionary himself, will be considered as fully conclusive of the high character, standing and responsibility of the house of
Bellot
des
Minieres
Bros
. & Company — the more so when it is reflected that the
Imperial Government
never
grants the slightest recognition of any person or enterprise that does not bear the highest character. These conclusions are further borne out by the remarks in the
House
of the able chairman of the
Joint Committee
, (
Gen
-
Chapman
,) reported in our paper some days since, "that the committees had abundant testimony before them that this was probably the most powerful financial company in the world, and abundantly able to carry out their agreements."
The Daily Dispatch: February 27, 1861. Richmond Dispatch. 4 pages. by Cowardin & Hammersley. Richmond. February 27, 1861.
Alexander Yelverton Peyton Garnett
(September 8, 1820 – July 11, 1888) was an American
physician
. He was President of the
American Medical Association
, and served
Jefferson Davis
and
Robert E. Lee
during the
American Civil War
. He was a graduate of the
George Washington University Medical School
.
Early life
Alexander Yelverton Peyron Garnett was born in essex country, September 19th, 1820. He was the son of Muscoe Garnett and Maria Battile, his wife. Among ancestry were many of the best known old families of Virginia. His childhood was spent at his home, and his education conducted under private tutors.
Biography
Garnett began studying medicine at the
University of Pennsylvania
at the age of nineteen, and graduated in 1842. After graduation, he was appointed Assistant Surgeon in the
Navy
. His first cruise was to the
Pacific
, under Commodore
Cornelius Stribling
, on the American steamer
USS
Cyane
. On a subsequent cruise to
South America
, he met his wife, Mary Wise, daughter of then United States Minister to the Court of
Brazil
,
Henry A. Wise
. After his marriage he was stationed temporarily at
Washington
, but later resigned his position in the Navy and began his career as a civilian physician. He was then elected to the chair of Theory and Practice of Medicine in the
National Medical College
of
Columbian University
.
At the outbreak of the
American Civil War
his sympathies were with his native state of Virginia; he left Washington for
Richmond, Virginia
, where he remained until the close of the war. So many of his friends and former patients were in this city that he very soon found himself actively engaged in as large a practice as he had had in Washington. Dr. Garnett was appointed surgeon in the
Confederate Army
, and placed in charge of two hospitals. He was also a member of the Board of Medical Examiners to examine applicants for admission to the Medical Corps. These positions he continued to hold during the entire war. He was the physician of General
Robert E. Lee
and family, as well as to the families of Generals
Joe Johnston
,
Wade Hampton
,
William Preston Johnston
,
John C. Breckinridge
, and of many members of the
Confederate Cabinet
and
Congress
.
At the termination of the war in 1865, when
Richmond was evacuated
, Dr. Garnett, at the request of
Jefferson Davis
, accompanied him as a member of his personal staff, but after the surrender of Johnston's army he returned to Richmond a paroled prisoner. He resumed the practice of his profession in Richmond, but in 1865 returned to Washington where he immediately found himself engaged in active practice and in lecturing. He was elected to the chair of Clinical Medicine in the Medical Department of
Columbian University
, which position he held for many years. He also became one of the Board of Directors of the Children's Hospital, and served as President of the Medical Society and of the Medical Association of the District of Columbia. In 1874, he was chosen President of the Southern Memorial Association of Washington, and selected to deliver the oration upon the occasion of the interring of the dead of
Early's
army, who had fallen in the attack upon Washington. His address upon that occasion was conciliatory in its tone.
Dr. Garnett was elected President of the
American Medical Association
, and presided at its meeting in 1886. His address on medical education excited a great deal of notice and approval at the time, as he brought into very broad relief the evils of medical education in this country. His last public work was in connection with the meeting of the International Medical Congress, held in Washington in 1887. It is well known how many obstacles and difficulties attended the completing of the arrangements for that meeting and it was only by dint of most arduous labor and untiring energy that Dr. Garnett, as Chairman of the Committee of Arrangements, gave it so large a measure of success. There is no doubt that the anxiety of mind and physical fatigue attendant upon his duties at this time helped to bring on the death of Dr. A. Y. P. Garnett, a failure of health which ended in his sudden death in the summer of 1888 at
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
.
Works
Dr. Garnett contributed a number of papers to medical journals, which were all of great practical value and interest. The paper which he read at the meeting of this Society, in 1887, entitled “Observations on the Sanitary Advantages of Tide Water Virginia” is a fair example of his thoroughness in the treatment of medical questions. Other papers are:
“Condurango as a Cure for Cancer”
“The Potomac Marshes and their Influence as a Pathogenic Agent”
“Epidemic Jaundice among Children”
“The Sorghum Vulgare or Broom-Corn, Seed in Cystitis”
“Nelaton's Probe in Gunshot Wounds”
“Coloproctitis treated by Hot-Water Douche and Dilatation or Division of the Sphincters”
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