Letter signed Henry Sampson, Houston, to Major G.A. Magruder, Houston. Acknowledging your note of this morning regarding saddles stored with Lt. von Phul ordnance officer. Capt. Maffett turned over to me 9 cases of saddlery as the property of Mr. Connolly, M.P., who had informed him the presents of Genl. Lee, and staff, and was surprised upon examination to find one army saddle among the number. He therefore presumed the Honl. Gentleman intended a speculation by the transaction and requested that I would so arrange matters that he, Capt. M., would not be held responsible for their value. I have concluded to turn them over to Lt. von Phul, taking his memorandum receipt for same as the proper receiving officer for the department which will relieve Capt. M. and myself of further responsibility and all in accordance with the wishes of the Commanding General. (Gift of John Richardson Thomas and Henry von Phul Thomas, January 1954), 1865 May 20

Item — Box: 2

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The collection contains family correspondence, mainly letters of Anna Maria von Phul, Sarah von Phul (Jordan) Mason, and Graff von Phul to Henry von Phul in St. Louis. The letters mention family news, Anna Maria von Phul’s artwork, soldiers in Lexington just prior to the War of 1812, Henry's business affairs, an 1819 flooding in St. Louis from Chouteau's Pond when the dam gave way, the murder of Elijah Lovejoy, and the Civil War. The collection also contains Graff von Phul's extracts from the first lecture of Sir Joshua Reynolds, delivered at the opening of the Royal Academy on January 2, 1769; a deed of emancipation of Richard, dated August 30, 1844; a bill of sale of an enslaved girl dated November 2, 1858; poems, newspaper clippings kept by Anna Maria von Phul, land surveys, Von Phul family genealogy, and a detailed biography and accounts of Henry von Phul.