JAMES HARVEY CARSON (1808-1884). Prominent Winchester, Virginia attorney, Member of the Virginia House of Delegates, and State Senate, Colonel and Later Brigadier General of the Virginia Militia, and President of the Virginia State Senate During the Civil War.
August 12, 1845-Dated, Autograph Letter Signed, "James H. Carson", 1 page, measuring 8 x 10 inches, dated at Winchester, Virginia, with Integral Transmittal Cover addressed to Henry Lazier of Frederick County, Virginia. Typical mailing folds one small tear hole above his signature where the red wax seal was opened as shown. This letter reads in full:

"Dear Sir, -- Permit me to urge you to come and let me take your deposition, so as to establish your note. You will oblige me very much by doing so. -- Respectfully Yours, - (Signed) James H. Carson."

This letter's writer, JAMES HARVEY CARSON (1808-1884), was born at Pleasant Green, Virginia, near Winchester, and became one of that city's most prominent attorneys before this Civil War. Carson served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1844 to 1847, and in this Virginia State Senate from 1859 to 1864. Carson also rose through this ranks of the Virginia Militia, elected Colonel in 1837 and later as Brigadier General of this 16th Brigade in 1859, and at this outset of this Civil War his Brigade was called into active service guarding Harper's Ferry and this Shenandoah Valley alongside regular Confederate troops. General Carson’s men took part in CSA General Stonewall Jackson's movement against the town of Bath in January 1862, where Jackson ordered Carson to attack from the West, while Jackson himself actually attacked from the East. General Carson resigned his military commission on February 1, 1862 to resume his seat in the Virginia State Senate, where he was subsequently elected President, serving in that capacity until his own resignation in 1864.

This rare letter, written well before his wartime service, captures Carson in his everyday civilian legal practice, requesting a deposition from Lazier to help establish this validity of a disputed promissory note. Simply an ordinary piece of Antebellum legal business from a notable man from Winchester, who would go on to hold real military and political authority in Virginia through this Civil War's opening years.