Longstreet, James, as Confederate General

Autograph letter signed ("J. Longstreet"), 1 1/2 page (8 x 5 1/8 in.; 204 x 131 mm) on a bifolium of laid paper, "Hd. Qrs. 2. Division" [Centreville, Virginia], 5 December 1861; some very light soiling, fold creases. [Accompanied by:] An autograph plan, in pencil, of the Confederate defenses at Centreville, one page (7 7/8 x 9 7/8 in.; 201 x 252 mm) on a sheet of blue-ruled laid paper; light soiling, minor wear and pinholes at intersecting folds. The two holographs housed together in a half red morocco portfolio.

Sotheby's, 22 June 1999, lot 101 (undesignated consignor)

Autograph letter signed ("J. Longstreet"), 1 1/2 page (8 x 5 1/8 in.; 204 x 131 mm) on a bifolium of laid paper, "Hd. Qrs. 2. Division" [Centreville, Virginia], 5 December 1861; some very light soiling, fold creases. [Accompanied by:] An autograph plan, in pencil, of the Confederate defenses at Centreville, one page (7 7/8 x 9 7/8 in.; 201 x 252 mm) on a sheet of blue-ruled laid paper; light soiling, minor wear and pinholes at intersecting folds. The two holographs housed together in a half red morocco portfolio.
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Defending Centreville with "Quaker Guns." Following their victory at First Manassas, the Confederates established a winter encampment at nearby Centreville. In the present order, Longstreet directs Cocke to equip the battery under his command with false cannons popularly known as Quaker guns. "Please have the embrasures of the Fort that your Battery is to occupy, so fixed by a rough shed and blackened logs that the enemy will be inclined to think that there is a piece in each embrasure. The shed is necissary to cover the positions from observation by balloon reconnaissances. I send you a sketch which will show you the position assigned your battery. Please return it as soon as you have ascertained your position. It is important the arrangement be made as speedily as possible."

The elaborate field works around Centreville were appointed with dummy guns to deceive the Federals into thinking that the works were still occupied in force. (At this time, the Union had a fleet of seven reconnaissance balloons in the air: the Union, Intrepid, Constitution, United States, Washington, Eagle, and Excelsior.)

General Cocke, his health broken since First Manassas, returned to Belmead, his Powhatan County plantation, just three weeks after receiving Longstreet's letter; he committed suicide there on 26 December. Cocke died without returning the plan of fortifications that Longstreet had sent him. In addition to Cocke's battery, the diagram shows the locations of five other cannon and rifle batteries—one to be occupied by "Some brigade Battery," the others commanded by Major Walton and captains Dana, Hamilton, and Cook.