Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Semmes, Paul Jones (1815-1863) to Joseph E. Brown

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00508.11 Author/Creator: Semmes, Paul Jones (1815-1863) Place Written: Columbus, Georgia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 11 March 1861 Pagination: 4 p. : 25.5 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

Semmes's retained copies. Writes to the Governor of Georgia to advise that Jefferson Davis is calling for only 2000 troops from the state of Georgia, instead of the 10,000 volunteers the state had planned to raise. Also advises that Davis planned to make all appointments of general officers in the state troops and gives Brown the opportunity to reconsider his commission of Semmes as brigadier general, lest it "might embarrass you and place us in an awkward position." This letter documents the start of the friction between Jefferson Davis and Georgia Governor Joseph Brown that lasted throughout the war. On verso is a 13 March 1861 letter to Governor Brown in which Semmes states that he has received his commission and will leave for Savannah shortly.

Semmes was a Georgia banker and plantation owner who served as agent for the State of Georgia during the preparations for the Civil War. He served as colonel of the 2nd Georgia in the Confederate Army at the outbreak of the war and was promoted to brigadier general in March 1862. He was assigned to a brigade in McLaws' division of Longstreet's corps fighting in Crampton's Gap, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Salem Church, and Gettysburg, where he was mortally wounded.

Columbus Gra
11 March 1861.
Sir
Your telegram of yesterday was received & acknowledge last night.
This morning I set out for Savannah & on the way to Macon was informed by a person in the confidence of the Confederate government, that the President of the Confederate States had called for only two thousand (2000) troops from the State of Georgia & that he would make all the appointments of general officers in the State troops; that it was believed that; in deference to the action of the Confederate government [2] the State Convention now assembled at Savannah would annul the Act passed by the Legislature authorizing the raising of the Ten thousand (10000) volunteers.
Under these altered circumstances therefore my appointment [struck: of] [inserted: as] Brigadier General might embarrass you & place us in an awkward position. I admit it but not to return in from but return to Columbus & submit this statement of facts for your consideration.
You will allow me to press my obligations for the honor conferred by my appointment, & to accept that I will promptly accept the commission tendered whatever it is [3] sent from the [illegible] to you & to myself with which it [illegible].
Awaiting your reply
I am Your Excellences
servant
Paul J Semmes
Yre Excellency
Joseph E Brown
Governor of Georgia
Savannah
Ga.

Semmes, Paul Jones, 1815-1863
Brown, Joseph Emerson, 1821-1894

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources