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Landis, Augustus Jr. (1833-1892) [Petition asking George Wortham to resign his command]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02233.11 Author/Creator: Landis, Augustus Jr. (1833-1892) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph document signed Date: 1861 Pagination: 4 p. : docket ; 24 x 14 cm. Order a Copy

Written by Landis, an officer under Wortham's command, and signed by over fifty members of the company. Docket, in Wortham's hand, states the petition was "Got up by Lieut Landis (who wished promotion) during my absence and disavowed by all but sixteen of the signers. Those who disavowed it resented how Landis used threats &c to procure signatures." Those who later disavowed the petition have the word "denied" penciled next to their names.

Excerpt: "We the undersigned believe that the danger of an engagement in battle is imminent and feeling that the lives of this company should be endangered from your inefficiency to lead us in the hour of danger we therefore with profound respect for you personally as a gentleman would request you to resign your position as Captain of the Greenville Greys feeling that many valuable lives would be saved by the Election of a more experienced leader…"

Augustus Landis Jr., a 1st lt. in Co. D of the 12th N.C. Infantry reached the rank of Captain.

Augustus Landis Jr. was a First Lieutenant in Company D of the Twelfth North Carolina Infantry. Would later reach rank of Captain. George Wortham was a Confederate officer, who served as a Captain in the Twelfth North Carolina Infantry and later Colonel in the Fiftieth North Carolina Infantry.

?,?
To Capt. Geo Wortham
Sir:
We the undersigned believe that the danger of an engagement in battle in imminent and feeling that the lives of this company should be endangered from your inefficiency to lead us in the hour of danger we therefore with profound respect for you personally as a gentleman would request you to resign your position as Captain of the Greenville Greys feeling that many valuable lives would be saved by the Election of a more experienced leader
A.Landis Jr.
J.C. Hestie

Landis, Augustus Jr., 1833-1892
Wortham, George, ca. 1823-1883

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