Shenandoah Valley Resident Writes To Confederate Colonel Kenton Harper Discussing Defense Of The Valley And Seeking Promotion For His Disabled Brother

(CIVIL WAR IN VIRGINIA). ALS. 1 pg. 8 x 10. August 31, 1864. Richmond, Virginia. An autograph letter signed RW Burke to Col Kenton Harper: I learn from the authorities that there are at least forty thousand detached men in Virginia who will legitimately belong to the reserve force and in addition to these there are many below the age who would be willing to unite with it provided it is properly officered. For this reason Gen Kemper has in his appointments endeavored to select at Colonels gentlemen who possess large sectional influence, as well as Tried military capacity I do not flatter you when I say that your acceptance of the Colonelcy of the August regiment would give great satisfaction not only to your fellow citizens of the Valley but to your many friends here -. In the event you acceptmy brother Capt Thomas J Burke can secure the Lieut Colonelcy, and he is perfectly willing to relieve you of the trouble of organizing the regiment Hoping that this will receive yourconsideration. This letter reveals how military matters during the Civil War often worked in tandem with self-serving advancement. By August of 1864, the Shenandoah Valley, the breadbasket of the Confederacy, was under mortal threat from Union General Philip Sheridan. Though the Confederate forces under General Jubal Early, under whom Kenton Harper served, had once been able to hold their own, by the end of the summer they were collapsing under Sheridans constant and successful military actions and his total war tactics similar to Sheridans concurrent March to the Sea. To increase Earlys army, Robert W. Burke discusses an effort by General James Kemper, leader of the Virginia Reserves, to send a force to unite with Earlys. Burke proposes that Harper lead such a force and that Burkes brother, Captain Thomas J. Burke be his second. Such a promotion would have been laughable given Captain Burke had been listed as Wounded leg, permanently disabled after the 1862 Battle of Gaines Mill. In the end, nothing seems to have come from Burkes proposal as Harper led no such force, the Valley was lost for the Confederacy after Octobers Battle of Cedar Creek, and Thomas Burke left active duty that December. The letter is in excellent condition with some folds.