Item No. 3140466

A fascinating pair of letters written about an unfortunate case of mistaken identity following the Battle of Cold Harbor. The first letter was written by War Department Chief Clerk John Potts to Mrs. John Hanson Thomas of Baltimore acknowledging her letter to the War Department that apparently referenced the mistaken belief that Major General W. T. H. Brooks had been mortally wounded during the battle. Actually, she had mistaken him for Brigadier General John R. Brooke, who had been critically wounded but not killed. Mrs. Thomas, the wife of a fervent Maryland secessionist and who was related to Brooks through the Union General’s wife, had evidently informed the War Department about the mix-up and that Brooks’s wife had been given the horrifying news—though fortunately erroneous—that her husband was mortally wounded. Potts wrote to reassure Mrs. Thomas that word of the miscommunication had been passed to General Brooks. This letter, written on War Department stationery, measures 7 3/4” x 9 3/4” and is in excellent condition with light toning. Creased where originally folded. Includes the original War Department cover with John Potts free frank.

The second letter, also addressed to Mrs. Thomas, was written by Brooks himself. In it he recounted the news and regretted that his wife “was for twenty four hours without scarce a hope if its being a mistake,” adding, “you who know her can well imagine her misery.” After thanking Mrs. Thomas, the General closed the letter with some commentary on the state of military affairs. Written on June 21, the situation from Brooks’s perspective looked bleak as opportunities to seize the vital hub of Petersburg had slipped through the Army’s fingers. “The bloody work still goes on without much if any advantage to either side,” he wrote. “It looks very much as if more than ‘all summer’ will be needed to finish the work on ‘the line,’” he remarked as a bit of a jab against General Ulysses S. Grant’s plan “to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer.” He closed noting that General Benjamin F. Butler (“B.F.B.”) was his “special patron,” responsible for Brooks’s advance to command of the 10th Corps. Citing poor health, however, Brooks would resign the following month. The letter was written on 3 pages of a 4-page bifolium sheet measuring 5” x 8”. Excellent condition with creases where it was originally folded. Brooks’s ink signature appears at the bottom of the third page.

The transcripts of each letter follows:

Potts’s Letter to Mrs. Thomas:

War Department
Washington City,
June 21, 1864

Mrs. Annie C. Thomas
Baltimore Md.

My dear Madam,
I have been so constantly occupied with business during the past few days that I fear I may have neglected to acknowledge the receipt of your note.

Immediately on the receipt of it I sent the letter to Major General W. T. H. Brooks, through the Adjutant General of the Army. I have no doubt that he has received it ere this.

Very respectfully
& Sincerely Yours
John Potts

Brooks’s letter to Mrs. Thomas:

10th Corps June 21, 1864

My Dear Mrs. Thomas,
I can not express the gratitude I feel for your kind letter. It found me in great distress caused by the reception of a letter from her sister giving an account of the the reception by my dear wife of the same horrible news you had of me. She was for twenty four hours without scarce a hope if its being a mistake. You who know her can well imagine her misery. They were on their way to Nashville and were stopping for a few days at their cousin’s Miss Jennie Buell’s in Lawrenceburgh. They were to have been in Nashville yesterday and by this time I presume they are on their way back; and my wife & baby thinking of starting for Baltimore or perhaps Washington DC where I have heard of a comfortable place for her.

I am very thankful for your kind offer to communicate information of my movements. I would have telegraphed her after the battle when Col. Brooke was mortally wounded, but I was uncertain about her movements. I shall never fail again if I have the opportunity. The bloody work still goes on without much if any advantage to either side. It looks very much as if more than “all summer” will be needed to finish the work on “the line.” I hope you will not have any more cause of unhappiness about your boy. If you keep the sum of military affairs, you will perceive I have been advanced in my command—if not in rank. I am in command of this Corps. B.F.B. is my special patron, which is somewhat unaccountable to me.

Again accept my thanks.

I am very truly yours
W. T. H. Brooks