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Early, Jubal A. (1816-1894) to Lieutenant Colonel Cummings

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02461.05 Author/Creator: Early, Jubal A. (1816-1894) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: January 22, 1862 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 30.5 x 19.2 cm. + 1 engraving ; b&w ; 21.8 x 16 cm. Order a Copy

Orders Cummings' regiment to focus all their work "on the breast work in front of my quarters." The works have been taking too long to finish, and Early demands that "the whole of your regiment fit for duty except the guard...get all the axes spades shovels and picks...and put them to work under your personal superintendence." Docket in pencil. Addressed to "Lt Col Cummings." Written at "Head Quarters 2nd Brigade 1st Division 1st Corps Army Potomac." One bust engraving of Early included as collateral.

[excerpt]
About a days work remains to be done on the breast work in front of my quarters including that assigned to the 5th N. Carolina Regiment, and no progress has been made in it for ten days. I am tired of this state of things. You will turn out to-day the whole of your regiment fit for duty except the guard and get all the axes spades shovels and picks you and put them to work under your personal superintendence. You will take all the men from working on your cabins & stop that until the breast works are completed. Let every tool of every kind in your camp and at you new camp be produced and put the men with axes to clearing…in front & the others to throwing up the trenches. Continue this daily until the work is completed….

Early, Jubal Anderson, 1816-1894

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