American Industrialist – New York Central Railroad Founder; Democratic U.S. Congressman – 1857-59 & 1861-63

Autograph Letter Signed, 5” x 8”, as U.S. Congressman from New York, responding to a request for the appointment of the former U.S. Minister to Ecuador, Van Brugh Livingston, from William W. Campbell, a prominent New York judge and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and promising to pursue the matter directly to President James Buchanan.

“Washington, Dec. 18, 1858. W.W. Campbell, Esq., My dear Sir, I duly rec[eive]d your favor of the 25th ult[imo] requesting my aid in obtaining the appointment of Doct[or] Livingston as consul at La Union San Salvador. I have seen the Dep[ut]y Sec[retar]y of State who will advance to the President to make the appointment. I hope to see the President on Monday when I trust I shall be able to bring the matter to a point. Yours Very Respectfully, Erastus Corning.”

Several light folds and a light diagonal crease at lower left, well away from text.

Republican U.S. Congressman & Senator - Massachusetts - 1857-93; Commission Chairman for the Five Civilized Tribes - Indian Territory – 1893-1903

Autograph Quotation Signed, on a 2 ¼” x 4 ¾” slip of paper.

“There is no such word as ‘fail’ in a brave boy’s dictionary. H.L. Dawes.”

Minor bleeding of ink in several areas; light vertical fold at center.

Founder of the American Express Company; Democratic Mayor of Buffalo, New York – 1862-66

Document Signed, New York, July 7, 1873, “Wm. G. Fargo,” as company president, a partly printed 7 ¾” x 11 ½” stock certificate issued to Augustus Keep for 100 shares in the American Express Company. 

Hole-punch cancellation at far left; perforation cancellation at lower left, through the signatures of the company secretary and treasurer.

Confederate Congressman – Florida – 1862-65, U.S. Senator – Florida – 1849-55

FULKERSON, SAMUEL V. (1822-62) 
Confederate Colonel – 37th Virginia Infantry, Killed-in-Action at the Battle of Gaines Mill – June 26, 1862. 


Autograph Note Signed, 8” x 10”, recommending the son of War of 1812 hero Harold Smyth to President Fillmore for an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

“I have been acquainted with Col. Harold Smyth from my boyhood and have often heard his services in the War of 1812 spoken of in the highest terms of commendation by officers who served with him. I most cordially unite with the members of Congress from Virginia in presenting the name of his son to the President for one of the appointments at large of Cadets at West Point. Jackson Morton of Florida. Senate Chamber, Feb. 4/[18]52.”

In a fifteen-line Autograph Note Signed on the reverse, Samuel V. Fulkerson, at the time a young Virginia attorney and member of the Virginia Military Institute Board of Visitors, further notes the transfer of Smyth’s admission application from West Point to V.M.I.

“W.C.R. Smyth, S[tate] C[adet], Wytheville. (Explanation) I am informed that this is a portion of an application made to the President for the admission of Mr. Smyth as a cadet at West Point, but on failing in that, the application is made to the V.M.I. to be admitted as a State Cadet from the 15th District. Saml. V. Fulkerson.”

A Mexican War veteran and V.M.I. graduate, Fulkerson later served as judge of Virginia’s thirteenth judicial district from 1857 until the outbreak of the Civil War. As Colonel of the 37th Virginia Infantry, Fulkerson saw action from the war’s early western Virginia battles through Gaines Mill, where he was killed in the successful Confederate assault on the Union lines. In a glowing condolence letter, Stonewall Jackson, whose longtime friend and favorite Samuel had been, assured his relatives that Fulkerson would have undoubtedly been recommended for promotion to brigadier general had he lived.

Tiny holes at the center intersections of the usual folds; heavier soiling and wear along folds on reverse.

Union Major General - Virginia; U.S. Presidential Candidate - Whig Party - 1852

Scott’s Civil War role was limited to the conception of the “Anaconda Plan” for forcing the surrender of the Confederacy. Due to advanced age, he resigned from the army shortly after McClellan’s appointment to command the Army of the Potomac.

Recommending Brevet Brigadier General Harvey Brown to War Secretary Stanton 

War-Date Autograph Letter Signed, two pages on front and reverse of a 5” x 8” sheet, recommending an old army comrade, Colonel Harvey Brown, to War Secretary Edwin Stanton.

“N. York, Apl. 9 1862. Dear Sir: I beg to present to you Col. Harvey Brown, one of the most distinguished veterans of the army & whose last gallant achievement, at Ft. Pickens, seems to merit a special reward, like all his other services on whatever field. Col. B. has had fortune in respect to promotion which, I trust, the War Department may now be able to correct. With the highest respect, I have the honor to remain, Y[ou]r most Ob[edien]t Serv[an]t, Winfield Scott. Hon. E.M. Stanton, Sec. of War.”

A lifelong soldier, Brown had served in the Florida Seminole Wars and under Scott during the Mexican War. Having declined appointment to brigadier in the volunteer services, he was brevetted brigadier general, effective November 23, 1861, for gallant conduct in the command of Ft. Pickens, Florida during the Confederate attempts to take the Santa Rosa Island post. On April 5, 1862, Brown took command of the defenses of New York City and was later brevetted major general for his role in suppressing the Draft Riots there the following year.

Lightly and evenly toned, with small holes at corners and tape repairs to clean paper separation at the folds.