From the Alexander Autographs Auction Catalog, April 2001

82. ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL GODWIN (1831 - 1864) Provost Marshall of Richmond and later a Brigadier General who fought at Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, Killed at the Third Battle of Winchester by a shell fragment. A rare war date A.E.S. as Provost Marshall of Richmond, on an important letter written to Godwin by G.W. Alexander, Assistant Provost Marshall, concerning the disposition of provost guards in Richmond. The A.L.S. 1p. 4to., Richmond, May 3, 1862, reads in full:

"Captain - I was in General Winders' office about the guard that accounts for the enclosed order - my detail is: Castle Godwin, 24, Guard House Franklin St., 20, Henrico Co. Jail, 5, Va. C.R.R. Depot, 6, Patrol, 36. Total, 90. Respectfully, G.W. Alexander, A.P.M.". At the bottom of the letter Godwin has written: "I consider the above detail absolutely necessary for Eastern District. A.C. Godwin, Provost Marshall".

At the time, Castle Godwin, the Guard House at Franklin Street, and the Henrico County Jail were all being used as prisons. The remainder of the guards, both at the railroad depot and at large, were presumably used to maintain order within Richmond and to arrest deserters. The writer of this letter, Alexander, would be arrested after the war for alleged cruelty against prisoners, but was not convicted. Very good. $1,500-2,000

[note: this page is simply a copy of the listing in the catalog. I do not know who bought the letter, and it is no longer for sale]

Page last updated on 02/12/2008