Get a Closer Look at the Wharton Letters
Get a closer look at the letters written to and from Confederate General Gabriel Wharton.
Jan 31, 2020
During ANTIQUES ROADSHOW’s 2017 visit to Newport, Rhode Island, a guest named Sue brought in an archive of letters that had belonged to her great-grandfather, Confederate General Gabriel Wharton. The contents of the letters provided immense detail about Wharton’s life prior to, during, and after the Civil War. Books & Manuscripts appraiser Martin Gammon noted the historical significance of what was written in Wharton’s letters:
“[Wharton] was involved in a number of very important campaigns, including the Battle for Fort Donelson. And we picked out from your archive just one letter from General Robert E. Lee. He was one of the last Confederate generals to be in operation before the final surrender.”
After the end of the Civil War, Wharton went back to his old profession of land surveying and worked in New Mexico and Arizona. Due to the rich and extensive detail of the archive, Gammon gave it an overall auction estimate of $30,000 to $50,000.
Read the letters below!
Editors Note: Unfortunately, ANTIQUES ROADSHOW's copies of the manuscript letters by General Wharton and by Mr. Mason are incomplete. What follow are partial transcription.
Richmond, Va.
April 21, 1862.
Col. G.C. Wharton
51st Reg. Va. Vols.
Richmond, Va.
Colonel:
It is understood that the furloughs granted by Genl. Floyd to the 50th and 51st Va regiments and the Va battalion command by Maj. Houndshell, are about expiring; And you are desired to collect the members of these regiments and battalion at Wytheville as soon as possible, fill the companies to the maximum allowed by law, and otherwise prepare the Command for immediate service. You will report as soon as practicable the probable time at which your Command will be ready for service.
Very respectfully,
R. E. Lee
Genl
Bensen April 28th 86
My dear Wife,
I have just reached here & have only a few minutes before the arrival of the train that I want to send this letter by. I do not find any letters here but may get some when the train comes in.
I am very well but tired and dirty = but when I get a wash & a good meal (which I have not had for several days I will be all right,)
Old Geronimo came [?] near getting us after all. I intended to go down to Santa Cruz, in [?] but the old rascal came in & killed some 10 to 12 Mexicans so I turned
Indian Agent and myself have a Ranch of our own, where we keep house and entertain our friends. We have given three dancing parties during the winter all of which were largely attended by the “Maids of [?]”.
I have attended the tabernacle several Sundays since I have been in the Territory, have heard Brigham Young, Spencer Kimball, Orson Hyde and other dignitaries of the Mormon Church, hold forth, I cannot call it preaching, they talk principally of “Gentiles,” about the President, Congress, and the Army. Brigham has 64 wives, some of them the most beautiful girls I have ever saw. His haram is the finest building in the city —and would compare honorably to Corcoran’s in Washington. I know a man here who is married to a widow and her two daughters. Another who married his mother in law, her daughter by his own father. I might mention many other instances more revolting but refrain for the simple reason that I would not have believed it myself before I came to the Territory.
There was a desperate street fight here on Christmas day between two rival bands of horse thieves, upwards of forty shots were fired but only three men killed. Bill Hickman, the leader of the “Danites” one of the most desperate characters in the western County was mortally wounded. He still lingers, but there is no hope of his recovery. This disgraceful affair which took place in the principle street of the city in broad daylight is passed over unnoticed by the authorities, it is well known that the fight commenced about the division of the proceeds of a band of horses stolen in the city. But they are Mormons and what they do in this community is passed over without notice, provided they pay a portion to the church as tithing to assist in supporting Brigham’s haram.
Rogers & Brian both send their kindest regards and unite with me in requesting you to come out to the county – it shall not cost you a cent to live here and if the Mormons leave the county, as we anticipate, it will be the greatest field for speculation in the world.
I know that you are a poor hand at answering letters, but if you can find time you do not know what pleasure it would be to receive a few lines from you.
Truly yr. friend,
B MasonConcerning Confederate Materials in the Marketplace
ANTIQUES ROADSHOW seeks to balance cultural sensitivity with its aim of examining the full spectrum of America's antiques and collectibles.
Melanie Albanesi is a digital producer for ANTIQUES ROADSHOW and a frequent content contributor to the series website. She has been a producer with the series since 2019.
