This desk comes with a letter of provenance attesting to its acquisition from the the well-known and well-respected Picket Post in Fredericksburg, who in turn had obtained it in 1996 from a Richmond, VA, estate sale held by a descendant of Doctor and CS Surgeon Hunter Holmes McGuire, best known as Chief Surgeon of Stonewall Jackson’s corps and the doctor who amputated Jackson’s arm after his wounding at Chancellorsville.

The desk is sturdily made, plain, as would be appropriate for field use, and fairly large, measuring 23” wide, 15” deep, 4” high in the front, 9” high in the back, the slanted top acting as the writing surface in contrast to the more elegant Victorian folding writing desks that are box-like when closed and open to present a slanted writing surface, often cloth covered. It also differs from the common “school teacher” type desks of the period in having the lid hinged about halfway down so as to open toward the writer, and with a lip appearing not at the bottom of a slanted surface to keep a book in place, but at the top as part of the backboard that serves to secure the bolt of a key lock fixed on the underside of the writing surface. The aperture for the key is also somewhat crude and L-shaped.  We also note what seems to be the remnants of a leather loop or bracket for a carrying handle mounted on the tall side of the box that was tacked in place on the inside and would have protruded through a narrow slot in the tall side of the box. The loop was removed by cutting  the leather flush with the box on the outside, but shows on the inside, where two ends were folded back and each secured with four tacks. The color and surface of the wood are very good.

McGuire was born in 1835, the son of a surgeon, studied medicine at Winchester Medical College in Virginia, run by his father, and then at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. He joined the 2^nd Virginia as a private in 1861, but quickly became brigade surgeon to Jackson at Harpers Ferry where he was organizing Virginia troops, was present at First Bull Run, and became Chief Surgeon of Jackson’s Corps in 1862. After Jackson’s death in 1863, he served under Ewell and Jubal Early, was captured at Waynesboro in March 1865, but returned in time to be present at Appomattox. He was later president of the American Medical Association. His wartime accomplishments included arrangements for quick release of captured medical personnel by both sides, something that did much to alleviate suffering and he reportedly later contributed to the first Geneva Convention in the same vein.

His attempt to save Jackson’s life by amputating his arm after Chancellorsville came to nought when Jackson developed pneumonia, but similar services to Generals Ewell and Trimble on their legs was more successful. He lived in Richmond after the war, with residences elsewhere also, and died in his hometown of Winchester in 1900. He had married a cousin of Jeb Stuart after the war, and the couple reportedly had nine children. The letter from the collector indicates at least on letter by McGuire had been in the sale as well, but went elsewhere.  [sr] [ph:L]

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