CSA Generals Wade Hampton and George G. Dibrell

CSA Generals Wade Hampton and George G. Dibrell, Endorsed Letter from Medical Examining Board Concerning Wounded Soldier

Dispatched by the Medical Examining Board, Dibrell's Division, 1p, 7.5 x 12 in., "In the field." April 2, 1865. Endorsed on verso by at least seven officers, including Brigadier General George G. Dibrell and Lieutenant General Wade Hampton.

Letter concerns W. J. Haley, brevet second lieutenant of Co. G., 4th Tennessee Cavalry, Dibrell's Brigade, who "received a gunshot wound near the elbow joint of the right arm," which caused him to lose partial use of his elbow joint and a majority of his hand function. The board recommends his retirement from service. Letter signed by three surgeons including Assistant Surgeon of the 13th Tennessee Cavalry, W.H. McCord.

George G. Dibrell (1822-1888) worked as a farmer and merchant before being elected to the Tennessee state convention as a Union delegate. Once the convention voted in favor of secession, however, Dibrell joined the Confederate Army as a private and was recruited to the 8th Tennessee Cavalry in 1862, serving under Bedford Forrest and rising to brigade command the following year. Throughout the remainder of the war, Dibrell distinguished himself in his service under under Generals Joseph E. Johnston and Joseph Wheeler until being promoted to brigadier general himself in 1865.

As the demise of the Confederacy quickened and the government fled from Richmond, Dibrell was charged with protecting the Confederate archives and escorting Jefferson Davis out of North Carolina. In this capacity, he was captured and subsequently paroled in May of 1865 near Washington, Georgia. Successful later in both business and politics, Dibrell established the Bon Air Coal and Coke Company, served as president of Southwestern Railroad in 1869, and was elected to Congress five consecutive times, 1875-1885.
Condition Report: Letter with some ink smearing/smuding, bleedthrough, fading (especially some endorsements), horizontal creases, and wear to edges and corners (and creases) including small tears and holes (mostly in upper portion of letter). Bottom edge of paper uneven as if clipped.