Item No. 9143681

In this 1865 letter, Captain Alexander K. Alley of the 35th Tennessee writes to his old commanding officer, Brigadier General Benjamin J. Hill, seeking a staff position. Hill had commanded the 35th in all the campaigns of the Army of Tennessee since 1862. After the Army met with disaster at Nashville in December 1864, Hill was promoted and transferred to Alabama, where he would join Nathan Bedford Forrest in defense of the state in the spring of 1865.

Writing his letter from Columbus, Georgia, in February 1865, Captain Alley indicates that he had attempted to see Hill at Oxford, Alabama, “but you were gone to Selma on business and I missed you.” Alley continues:

Gnl, I want if any possible chance to be with you. If you can’t get the Regt will you give me a position with you? I would like very much to have the position as ordnance officer with you if you think I am worthy of the position. Gnl, do all you can for me. Please let me know soon. I am now on my way to the army. My Regt is with Granbury’s Brigade.

Perhaps with the war winding down, and with the surviving units of the Army of Tennessee moving into the Carolinas, Alley was interested in remaining closer to Tennessee. The transmittal cover (with Jefferson Davis stamp and Columbus postmark) indicates the letter was “answered.”

The letter was written upon one side of a single sheet of writing paper measuring about 6 1/2” x 8 3/4”. Excellent condition, lightly toned. As mentioned the original postal cover is included. The transcript follows:

Columbus, Ga
Feb 18th 1865

Brig. Gnl.
B. J. Hill

Dear Sir
I came by Oxford to see you, but you were gone to Selma on business and I missed you. I wanted to see you very much. Gnl, I want if any possible chance to be with you. If you can’t get the Regt will you give me a position with you? I would like very much to have the position as ordnance officer with you if you think I am worthy of the position. Gnl, do all you can for me. Please let me know soon. I am now on my way to the army. My Regt is with Granbury’s Brigade.
I am, Gnl, very Respt.
Your Obt Servant
A. K. Alley, Capt.