Item No. 2627262

An interesting 1863 letter written by Colonel Alfred L. Rives, acting chief of the Confederate Engineer Bureau, in which he discusses the "many accidents to the young men of our neighborhood" in the Battle of Gettysburg. "It seems to have been truly a most sanguinary battle," he wrote. Rives also discussed the transfer of General D. H. Hill to the Western Theater. He had little faith in Hill's military abilities, but also considered the population of Hill’s new post in Mississippi to potentially be "shaky," a situation he believed required a leader with "conciliatory manners" in addition to "military talents of the first order." He came to the conclusion "that we have no bright military star in the West." Rives closed the letter with a brief description of the Federal plan to capture Charleston. As an engineer he was familiar with the harbor's defenses, and explained how Union General Quincy Gilmore, whom Rives wrote was "represented to be an engineer officer of capacity," would advance. He references a sketch that was originally enclosed with the letter, but that was separated from the letter at some point as only the letter is offered here. The letter was written on four pages of a bifolium stationery sheet measuring about 5" x 8". The paper is of typical thin Confederate quality and is lightly toned and creased where originally folded. The full transcript of the letter is found after Rives's biography.

Alfred Rives was the son of William Cabell and Judith (Walker) Rives. His father, who was among the most distinguished citizens of Virginia, was the United States minister to France. At the age of sixteen Rives entered the Virginia Military Institute and graduated in two years, ranking sixth in a class of twenty-four. Being proficient in engineering, he determined to adopt that as a profession, and in 1848 entered the University of Virginia, where he remained one session before accompanying his father to France. After a year devoted to the study of mathematics and French, he attended the Government Engineering School of France, and was later offered a position upon the great French railroad, "Du Nord," but instead returned to the United States, where he served in the engineering corps of the Virginia Midland railway. Later Rives accepted a position in Washington under Captain Montgomery C. Meigs of the United States Engineering Corps. He served for a year as assistant engineer of the United States Capitol and Post Office buildings. He returned to Virginia, his native state, upon its secession from the Union. Three days later he received the commission of captain of engineers from the state of Virginia, and was directed to report to Colonel Andrew Talcott, at that time chief engineer of the state. Rives was assigned to duty on the lower Virginia peninsula, and upon the resignation of Colonel Talcott was made acting chief engineer of the state of Virginia. Later, Rives was appointed acting chief of the Engineer Bureau of the Confederate States, a position he held until the close of the Civil War. He was promoted successively to be major, lieutenant-colonel and colonel of engineers.

Transcript:

Engineer Bureau
16 July 1863

My dear Mother,
I received your letter of the 14th inst. last evening, & regret to learn from it that you had heard neither from Sadie nor myself, & yet both of us had written some days before. The irregular mails must be the only explanation. I am truly sorry to hear of the many accidents to the young men of our neighborhood in the recent battle at Gettysburg. It seems to have been truly a most sanguinary battle. I sincerely trust that Channing will not be a long sufferer in consequence of his long ride to Winchester. I saw Frederick yesterday who gave me rather more information in regard to Channing’s wound than was contained in your letter.

The situation of affairs is now so complicated & in some directions so unsatisfactory, that I do not much enjoy the prospect, but thinking it will interest Father at all events I enclose a little sketch of Charleston & its defenses towards the Ocean. What does Father think of the promotion of D. H. Hill to a Lieutenant General, with orders to proceed to Mississippi & report for duty. Perhaps it is my want of judgement but I cannot help thinking the selection a most unfortunate one—not only of the Genl. but of his peculiar field of operation—a field, one would think, requiring conciliatory manners, among a people represented in some localities as becoming “shaky” (I trust an unjust accusation), but especially on requiring military talents of the first order. I imagine few will accord the possession of such gifts to the Genl., however they may admire his personal gallantry. I am coming reluctantly to the conclusion that we have no bright military star in the West—at least not as yet known to fame.

Writing of Genl. Hill reminds me of one of his last orders before leaving North Carolina. After thanking a portion of the gallant troops of his Command, he bears very heavily upon the cavalry & militia, particularly the latter which he ocscribes as being composed of 1 Col., 1 Lieut. Col., 1 Major, 10 Captains, 30 Lieutenants, & 1 private with misery in his bowels!

The Federals have sent Admiral Dahlgren of great gun memory, to attack Charleston, & they have at last begun approaches, secundum artem, under the direction of Genl. Quincy A. Gilmore, who is represented to be an engineer officer of capacity. The sketch enclosed will be of assistance in understanding. From Folly Island they made an attack & lodgment upon Morris Island & now apparently propose to reduce Battery Wagner by regular approaches, supported on the right flank by iron clad gun boats; the Cummings Point Battery in the same way & finally Fort Sumter from this latter point. The plan is well conceived but will require time to execute, & I hope Genl. Beauregard’s skill as an engineer will enable him to foil the enemy. Their first attack (an attempted surprise) on Battery Wagner has, as you are doubtless aware, proved a most disastrous failure.

I have written so much on “situation” (New York Herald’s expression) that I have barely room to send our united love to Father, Ella, & yourself, & to inform you that Sadie & myself are both well.
Your affectionate son,
A. L. Rives

Mrs. A. L. Rives