Benjamin, Judah Philip (1811-1884) to Henry A. Wise
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02469.01 Author/Creator: Benjamin, Judah Philip (1811-1884) Place Written: Richmond, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 12 January 1862 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 24.9 x 19.5 cm. Order a Copy
Written on letterhead of the War Department of the Confederate States by Acting Secretary of War Judah Benjamin to Brigadier General Wise. States that the bearer of this letter, William A. Pratt, wants to import "some cargoes of iron" from abroad under the English flag. He wants to then run them ashore on small vessels. Asks Wise to facilitate the enterprise as far as he possibly could.
Wise served in the United States Congress from 1833 to 1844. He was United States minister to Brazil from 1844 to 1847. He served as the Governor of Virginia from 1856 to 1859. Wise County, Virginia was named after him shortly after he became Governor. One of his last official acts as Governor was to sign the death warrant of John Brown. Wise served as a brigadier general in the Confederate Army. He commanded the District of Roanoke Island in North Carolina during the battle of Roanoke Island. He commanded a brigade in the Army of Northern Virginia during the siege of Petersburg, and was with Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Court House, where he fought bravely but urged Lee to surrender. He was the brother-in-law of Union General George G. Meade.
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