Served on the staff of General George B. McClellan during the Civil War

Autograph Letter Signed

(1838-94) Louis Philippe Albert d'Orleans was the given name of this prince of French nobility. He served on the staff of General George B. McClellan during the Civil War, distinguishing himself during the 1862 Virginia Peninsula campaign. His younger brother was Prince Robert Philippe Louis Eugene Ferdinand d'Orleans, Duke of Chartres, who also served with him on McClellan's staff. When difficulties arose between France and the United States regarding affairs in Mexico, the two French noblemen left the Union Army and returned to France. He wrote, History of the Civil War in America, a four volume set.

Autograph Letter Signed: 2 1/3 pages, 4 1/2 x 7, in ink, on black bordered mourning stationary.

Twickenham, Dec. 13, 1869

My Dear General,

I received yesterday your very kind letter of Nov. 17th as well as the parcel containing the most valuable military documents I could wish for. I cannot delay for a single day the expression of my sincere gratitude, although a deep [?] recent family affliction does not leave me now the leisure to do it as I should like to do.

I thank you very much for the care which you have bestowed on the collection of these documents and I am only sorry for the trouble those researches must have caused to you. Of course I possess the Rebellion Records as well as your first volume, but the Reports and figures which I have now in my hands, and a great deal of information upon those parts of the western campaigns which the nature of your subject did not allow you to speak of at length. I beg you to present to the President the expression of my gratitude for the kind permission he gave you to forward to me those copies. I hope my dear General to have soon the pleasure to see you here again.

I remain yours truly,
Louis Philippe D’ Orleans

Archival tape repair on spine, otherwise very fine. Nice content referring to the Civil War.