Francis W. Pickens Civil War-Dated Autograph Letter Signed to States Rights Gist, Forbidding Military Officers from Leaving South Carolina Governor of South Carolina when that state became the first to secede from the USA (1805-1869). Civil War-dated ALS signed "F. W. Pickens," one page, 7.75 x 9.5, State of South Carolina, Head Quarters letterhead, June 29, 1861. Handwritten letter to Adjutant General States Rights Gist, in full: "I desire a general order issued especially forbidding any officers in our state military of any description, and all men now belonging to any company of the state, to leave the state to join any company in any regt. now in service out of the state, and all recruiting officers are forbid to take any such men off under any pretext unless by special permission from Head Quarters." In fine condition. Accompanied by a full letter of authenticity from PSA/DNA. Shortly after South Carolina's secession from the Union, the newly elected Governor Pickens appointed Gist as state adjutant and inspector general. Gist rose to fame during the war as a Confederate Army brigadier general but was killed before its end at the Battle of Franklin in 1864.