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Early, Jubal A. (1816-1894) to Raphael Semmes

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00610 Author/Creator: Early, Jubal A. (1816-1894) Place Written: Lynchburg, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 29 August 1873 Pagination: 4 p. ; 20 x 12.5 cm. Order a Copy

Early, a former lieutenant general in the Confederate Army, writes to former Confederate admiral and brigadier general Raphael Semmes regarding correspondence with a German who has created a flying machine that could be used to bombard northern cities. Says "...I have this day received an offer from a German who says he has invented a flying machine, to dedicate to the Southern Cause, which he says is not lost...he says we can bombard and destroy...Northern Cities with his flying machines. I will publish the letter as a fitting comment in all the fit Northern papers are raising, and some Southern ones, chiming in with, about our recent rebellious proceedings..."

Lynchburg Augt 29th, 1873
Dear Sir,
I have received the enclosed which was directed to me at the [montgomery] & forwarded here, I suppose the man was a young man, who is a distant relation, and went to Europe after the war in the German [States] and mistakes me for him -
I have received several (your) communications since my return, [Me] from a man in New York offering [2] to name a pilot & working [upon] after me if I would pay $100d for a suit of flags - I declined the Union [war] [illegible] had a strong notion to write to him if he would make a piratical craft of it if I would raise the 100 -
I have this day received an offer from a German who says he has invented a flying machine, to dedicate to the Southern Cause, which he says is not lost. This letter has gone through the dead letter office in such haste as to induce me to [3] [illegible] it is a [illegible] says we can [illegible] land and destroy all the Northern Cities with his flying machines.
I will publish the letter as a fitting comment in all the fit Northern papers are raising, and some Southern ones, chiming in with, about our recent rebellious proceedings.
The enclosed letters belonging to the naval department, I forward to you -
Present my regards to all my lady acquaintances - especially to your daughters, [4] Miss (Stovall), and Mrs. Baldwin -
Very truly & respectfully
yours
JA Early
Admiral R. Semmes

Early, Jubal Anderson, 1816-1894
Semmes, Raphael, 1809-1877

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