Item No. 5065197

Brigadier General Hector Tyndale wrote and signed this letter to his friend and future biographer John M. McLaughlin on August 5, 1863. In it he discusses the outcome of the Gettysburg Campaign and recounts the capture of a prisoner who possessed items belonging to General John Pope.

A specialist in the porcelain business from Philadelphia in the prewar years, Tyndale was appointed major of the 28th Pennsylvania in 1861. He commanded a 12th Corps brigade at the Battle of Antietam in September 1862 and was twice wounded while leading his mean near the Dunker Church. While recovering he was promoted to brigadier general, and returned to the field in June 1863 to lead a 4th Corps brigade from the Peninsula to the Army of the Potomac’s aid in Pennsylvania.

He opens the letter noting that McLaughlin’s “sphere of influence has been enlarged since we parted, by a campaign with, perhaps, more work than the defensive one of 1862.” He continues, “If you had been at Hagerstown we probably should have met, as I brought up some troops from the Peninsula to go into the big fight which did not take place there.” Tyndale’s brigade arrived too late to join in the fighting at Gettysburg, but would afterward be assigned to the depleted 11th Corps, becoming the 1st Brigade of General Carl Schurz’s 3rd Division.

Tyndale then inquires about public opinion in the north, wondering whether the victory at Gettysburg had been sullied “by the inaction on the Potomac,” that allowed General Robert E. Lee’s Confederates to escape to safety across the river in Virginia. “As things stand here now they seem inert,” he writes. “There appears no chance for anything to be done for a long while. It is perhaps as well for the heat and consequent suffering of troops from marching are very great.”

He then writes of how his men captured a rebel who carried some rather interesting papers:

Once in a while our pickets catch some of the rebel scouts or guerrillas. This morning, one of mine sent in a couple of rebels, on one of whose person was found a large pocket book and some papers belonging to Major Genl. John Pope, taken from his baggage when Stuart’s raid was made on Manassas Junction a year ago. One of the papers was a note in favor of John Pope for six thousand and odd hundred dollars! The fellow grinned when I asked him how he got the book and papers and told that he had made a “grab,” on that memorable occasion, on the “carpet bag” in which all Pope’s baggage was to be carried, but which bag took, I think, 80 negroes to carry it!

The previous summer during the Northern Virginia Campaign, General John Pope’s baggage train had been raided at Catlett’s Station by Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart’s cavalry. In addition to a large amount of military intelligence Pope’s uniform was captured, which Stuart offered to trade to the Union general in exchange for his plumed hat, which had been lost days earlier in a surprise yankee raid at Verdiersville.

After inquiring about friends at home, Tyndale concludes the letter encouraging his friend to “write as often as you can, but don’t expect too many answers from me!”

Tyndale would continue to lead his brigade for another year. In the fall of 1863 he, along with the rest of the 11th Corps, would be transferred to Tennessee, where they’d fight nobly at Wauhatchie and Missionary Ridge. He resigned in August 1864, citing poor health. He died in Philadelphia in 1880. McLaughlin’s biography of Tyndale, A Memoir of Hector Tyndale: Brigadier-General and Brevet Major-General, U.S. Volunteers, was published in 1882.

There is an additional note written by John McLaughlin in red ink in the top and right-hand margins of the first page. It reads, “This letter is given to Belmont Perry, Esq., for his collection of autograph letters with the understanding that it, or any portion of it, shall not be printed or published without my consent.” Belmont Perry was a New Jersey attorney well known for having assembled one of the earliest and largest collections of war-related autographs, letters, and photographs. In the postwar years he contacted officers and politicians directly or, if the person sought was deceased, he contacted their friends and relatives, sometimes deceiving them as to his intent. His famous collection was sold at auction in 1899. Reportedly many of the Confederate-related letters sold for $5 to $10 each, or more, while many of the Union-related items sold for only 25¢ apiece. (To read more about the Perry collection please see Frank Jastrzembsi’s article, “Belmont Perry: The First Civil War Autograph Collector,” at https://emergingcivilwar.com/2022/07/29/belmont-perry-the-first-civil-war-autographed-letter-collector/.

The letter was written on 2 pages of a letter sheet measuring about 7 3/4” x 9 3/4”. It is in excellent condition with light toning. Creased at the original folds. The transcript appears below:

Head Quarters, 1st Brigade, 3d Division
11th Army Corps, August 5th 1863
Near Warrenton Junction Va

My dear McLaughlin
Your “pencil sketch” came safely and was very welcome. Your sphere of influence has been enlarged since we parted, by a campaign with, perhaps, more work than the defensive one of 1862. Since receiving yours I have heard that you have returned home safely, to find all at home well, I hope. I should have written to you before, not that there is so much to write. Unless I am not otherwise engaged I don’t feel like doing anything more, especially as I write often to Mrs. Tyndale or to Mr. Mitchell, and then, too, I have nothing to say. Everything is routine. It is true that on the march there is fatigue enough and incidents such as they are. But the [illegible] or if perception of interest becomes blunted by use, and all see a dead [illegible]. At least it is so with me.

If you had been at Hagerstown we probably should have met, as I brought up some troops from the Peninsula to go into the big fight which did not take place there.

How does this army stand now in northly public opinion? Is not Gettysburg [sullied?] by the inaction on the Potomac? As things stand here now they seem inert. There appears no chance for anything to be done for a long while. It is perhaps as well for the heat and consequent suffering of troops from marching are very great.

Once in a while our pickets catch some of the rebel scouts or guerrillas. This morning, one of mine sent in a couple of rebels, on one of whose person was found a large pocket book and some papers belonging to Major Genl. John Pope, taken from his baggage when Stuart’s raid was made on Manassas Junction a year ago. One of the papers was a note in favor of John Pope for six thousand and odd hundred dollars! The fellow grinned when I asked him how he got the book and papers and told that he had made a “grab,” on that memorable occasion, on the “carpet bag” in which all Pope’s baggage was to be carried, but which bag took, I think, 80 negroes to carry it!

How is Morse? I got two letters from him lately—both came together. I will write to him soon. How is Uncle John and his party and his parents? Milk of Human Kindnesss, how strong it is! How is Saml. Garett and his Mother, Wife, and Sister? Please make my respects to them. Write as often as you can, but don’t expect too many answers from me! With regard to all I am your friend
Hector Tyndale

Please tell Mrs. Tyndale that I am well. Have not seen Garrett since.

[Later notation in red as follows:]

This letter is given to Belmont Perry, Esq., for his collection of autograph letters with the understanding that it, or any portion of it, shall not be printed or published without my consent.
John McLaughlin