McLean, Nathaniel:

AUTOGRAPH LETTER, SIGNED, FROM UNION GENERAL McLEAN TO HIS WIFE WHILE IN THE FIELD ON SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE CAROLINAS, 27 MARCH 1865, DISCUSSING THE GRIM FUTURE OF LEE'S ARMY.

Headquarters, 2nd Division, 23d A.C. Camp near Moseley Hall, NC: 27 March 1865. 4pp bifolium, each page 5" x 8." Entirely in ink manuscript, signed "McLean." Very Good. With accompanying postal envelope addressed to Mrs. McLean in Glendale Ohio [postage stamp removed].

Ohio General Nathaniel McLean was the son of United States Supreme Court Justice John McLean. Young McLean, a Harvard-educated lawyer, organized the 75th Ohio Regiment, became its colonel in September 1861, and fought in most of the battles of the Virginia campaign.
Two weeks before Lee's surrender at Appomattox General McLean renders an informed prediction on the end of the War in Virginia. He writes, "... I cannot understand how the rebels can much longer prolong the contest unless we meet with some great and unlooked for disaster. If you will take the map, you will see that Sherman's army at Goldsboro is distant not over one hundred and fifty- or - sixty miles from Genl. Grant's pickets south of Petersburg. Now if Lee remains at Richmond we can start from Goldsboro and allowing five days for fighting and detentions in crossing streams and in fifteen days easily reach Genl Grant. Without detentions of any kind, we could make this march in less than ten days. With both Sherman and Grant Lee cannot hope for a moment to fight a successful battle and would be compelled to surrender. If, however Lee should evacuate Richmond and get the start of Grant as to avoid being destroyed in the attempt his status is equally as hopeless..." In any attempt to escape the Union's pincers, Lee's "men are out of heart, and they will melt away from his column by thousands on any long march." Item #37649

Price: $875.00