Owner of “McPherson’s Farm” – Where the Battle of Gettysburg Began; U.S. Congressman – Pennsylvania – 1859-63

The owner and editor of several Pennsylvania newspapers, both before and after the Civil War, McPherson served in the U.S. Congress from 1859 to 1863. The Battle of Gettysburg was begun when dismounted cavalry under Union General John Buford first confronted the Confederates on the farm he owned, just northwest of the town, on July 1, 1863. From then until his death in 1895, McPherson served several terms as clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives and returned to run a newspaper in Gettysburg for the last fifteen years of his life.

Autograph Letter Signed, on imprinted 5” x 8” stationery as Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, directing a change in his Washington, D.C. address.

“Washington, D.C., July 11, 1882. My dear Major, If in time please change my City address to No. 1701 Massachusetts Av[enue] N.W. Edwd. McPherson.”

Light, even toning and a few small stains detract very little from very good overall condition.

Union Navy Captain; U.S. Navy Rear Admiral

Executive Officer of the U.S.S. Decatur in Action against Hostile Indians during the Battle of Seattle, January 26, 1856

As stated in Navy Department records, Middleton, a lifelong navy man, most notably “served as executive officer on board of the U.S.S. Decatur in operating against a combination of hostile Indians of the various tribes of Washington and Oregon territories during the war of the winter of 1855-56, particularly on the occasion of the attack upon Seattle, Washington Territory, on January 26, 1856.

Document Signed, 2 ¾” x 8”, United States Navy Yard, New York, June 1, 1858, “Edward Middleton,” a partly printed receipt for Middleton’s pay of $101.71.

Overall condition is very good, with a minor paper break in the lower left margin.

Private Secretary of Abraham Lincoln

A prominent Illinois newspaper editor, Nicolay served as Lincoln’s private secretary from 1860 through the end of the Civil War. After the war, he served as U.S. consul in Paris and marshal of the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1890, he and John Hay published their ten-volume biography of Lincoln.

“…In the revision of our book, the suggestions you make will naturally come under consideration…”

Letter Signed, on the imprinted 5” x 8” stationery of the U.S. Supreme Court. During his tenure as marshal of the court, Nicolay thanks “S.P. Leeds, Esq., Hanover, N.H.” for information relating to the official biography of Abraham Lincoln, at the time a work in progress being co-authored with fellow Lincoln secretary John Hay. Released serially in Century Magazine from 1886 to 1890, Abraham Lincoln: A History was first published in book form in 1890.

“Deerfield, Mass., July 10^th 1887. My dear Sir: Accept our thanks for your kind letter of the 5^th, the answer to which has been delayed by my summer vacation trip. In the revision for our book, the suggestions you make will naturally come under consideration. We are of course gratified by the generous commendations you are pleased to bestow on our work. Yours truly, Jno. G. Nicolay.”

The letter is lightly and evenly toned, with two horizontal folds, and there is minor brushing of ink at the conclusion of Nicolay’s signature.

Private Secretary of Abraham Lincoln

A prominent Illinois newspaper editor, Nicolay served as Lincoln’s private secretary from 1860 through the end of the Civil War. After the war, he served as U.S. consul in Paris and marshal of the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1890, he and John Hay published their ten-volume biography of Lincoln.

Document Signed, 10” x 16”, as Marshal of the U.S. Supreme Court, “Jno. G. Nicolay, Marshal,” a manuscript statement of disbursements of the court for the first quarter of 1879, amounting to $11,321.40.

The document is in excellent condition, with tiny pinholes at the center intersections of the usual folds.

Union Brevet Brigadier General; Union Lieutenant Colonel – 7^th Iowa Cavalry

KIRKWOOD, SAMUEL J. (1813-94) Civil War Governor of Iowa – 1860-64; U.S. Interior Secretary – 1881-82

From the Dakota Territory, Pattee Urges Iowa Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood to Appoint Three Officers in the Newly Designated Forty-First Battalion of Iowa Infantry

War-Date Autograph Letter Signed, four pages, on an 8” x 10” letter-sheet, to Iowa Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood, a seldom-seen Civil War-time communication from the frontier outpost at Fort Randall, in the Dakota Territory. In this lengthy, detailed letter, Pattee requests that Governor Kirkwood appoint three officers in the newly designated 41^st Battalion of Iowa Infantry: 1^st Lieutenant Francis H. Cooper; 2^nd Lieutenant John C. Rutan; and 2^nd Sergeant Wallace Pattee, presumably Pattee’s brother, as both were born in Canada and were approximately forty years old when they enlisted in the Union Army.

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“Fort Randall, D[akota] T[erritory], Oct[ober] 20^th 1862.

Governor Kirkwood.

Sir, About a month ago I received my commission as Major and would have written you immediately in regard to the vacancy in the [?] office but for the strong opposition in the Co[mpany] against Lieut[enant] Cooper’s being promoted. I was in hopes this opposition would subside. I believe it is groundless as no one of the Company has been able to say any thing against him only that they don’t like him. It all grows out of the contest in the first election between Cooper & [John M.S.] Hodgedon. Hodgedon got 17 votes & some of his friends asked Cooper the same evening of the election to sign a paper agreeing to decline accepting the Captaincy if it should be offered to him which of course he would not do. I believe it to be a wicked conspiracy on part of a very few of Cooper’s enemies among whom [William] Truesdell stands first. This opposition has been and is now carried on in a spirit of insubordination and is pure spite work.

They have just shown me a petition to you asking that the first Serg[ean]t Hodgedon be appointed Capt[ain], thus striking an undeserved blow at Co[o]per and Rutan. Hodgedon is nothing near as well qualified for the place as Corporal [John N.] Pritchard and I insist upon it that you pay no attention to their paper.

Again a number of the signers of that petition & remonstrance have told me & Rutan & Cooper that they had nothing against the Lieutenant and that they wanted their names off as they did not know what they were signing and that they had been deprived of the privilege of taking their names off. In your circular of Jan[uary] 18^th 1862 are these words, ‘In filling field offices below that of Col[onel] and the office of Capt[ain] the recommendation of the Col[onel] will usually be sufficient.’

In our Regiment there is no Col[onel] and I understand that I sustain the same relation to the Reg[iment] as the Col[onel] and consequently I ask you to promote 1^st Lieut[enant] Francis H. Cooper to Captain & 2^nd Lieut[enant] John C. Rutan to 1^st Lieut[enant] of Co[mpany] ‘A’ & I ask you to appoint 3^rd Serg[ean]t Wallace Pattee 2^nd Lieut[enant] of Co[mapny] ‘A’ and the sooner this is done the sooner discipline will be restored. In appointing the non-commissioned officers last fall I gave Hodgedon the best place in order to attone [sic] as much as possible for his defeat in the election against Cooper and to heal the difficulty as much as I could instead of giving the place to Wallace Pattee as any other or most other persons would have done.

Hodgedon has no education scarcely and Wallace has some capacity for business and I want to appoint him Q[uarter] M[aster] so as to let Rutan with the Co[mpany] where he wishes to be very much. I enclose herewith the Resignations of Lieut[enant]s Cooper & Rutan which I hope you will not receive as I have but one other man of good qualification that I can rely upon with certainty.

The receipt of my commission gave me great satisfaction and strengthened me in my command. A compliance with my wishes as set forth in this letter will also give me a better standing & assist me very much in my arduous duties.

No man living can truly say that I have given a useless or oppressive order to men under my command but I have learned this fact – that in the army we must ignore Democracy and become seemingly tyrants. So far I have been able to maintain discipline and good order except in a few cases that is in the officers of Co[mpany] B who still persist in evading my instructions and degrading me in the eyes of all.

I am very Respectfully, John Pattee, Major 41^st Iowa, Com[man]d[in]g Post.”

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The 41^st Battalion of Iowa Infantry was formed in September 1862 from new recruits, along with three companies formerly detached from the 14^th Iowa Infantry and ordered to Fort Randall by Union General John C. Fremont. Modern records, along with Governor Kirkwood’s initialed notation, “Issue Commissions within requested. S.J.K. Nov[ember] 1, 1862,” penned vertically at the left of Pattee’s closing and signature, confirm that Cooper, Rutan, and Wallace Pattee received the appointments requested in this letter, all to rank from September 1, 1862.

In April 1863, Governor Kirkwood ordered the 41^st Iowa transferred into another new regiment, the 7^th Iowa Cavalry, with John Pattee commissioned lieutenant colonel.  The unit was immediately assigned in the Department of Kansas, where “They garrisoned posts, escorted trains, protected emigrants, guarded lines of travel and telegraph, and had frequent combats with the Indians who had been induced by some means to unbury the tomahawk and wage savage warfare against the whites: deaths from battle, 49; deaths from disease, 99; discharged, 246.” Source: The Union Army, Vol. 4.

The letter has clean paper separation at the edges of two horizontal folds, along which there is heavier soiling and wear on the final page.

Union Brigadier General – Indiana

ARNOLD, ABRAHAM KERNS (1837-1901) Union Captain – 5^th U.S. Cavalry; Awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for Gallantry at the Davenport Bridge, North Anna River, Virginia, 18 May, 1864

A West Point graduate, Pitcher was brevetted for gallantry in the Mexican War battles of Contreras and Churubusco. He was stationed in Texas when the Civil War broke out, and his only active field service was at Cedar Mountain, where he received a severe knee wound which rendered him unfit for further field service. After the war, Pitcher was superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, 1866-70.

Document Signed, 7 ¾” x 9 ½”, partly printed, vellum, West Point, New York, November 13, 1868, "T.G. Pitcher, Bvt. B[rigadier] G[eneral] U.S.A., " as Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy, discharging “…John Hall, a Private of the U.S. Military Academy Detachment of Cavalry…in consequence of Expiration of term of Service.”

The lower portion of the document, designated for comment on the recipient’s character, has been noted and signed, “Good. A.K. Arnold, Capt. 5^th Cavalry, Bvt. Major U.S. Army, Commanding Cavalry Detachment.” A recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor for “conspicuous gallantry in a charge on the enemy in action at the Davenport Bridge, North Anna River, Virginia, 18 May, 1864,” Arnold led numerous expeditions against the western Indians over the next twenty years. He was appointed brigadier general on May 4, 1898, seeing active field service in Cuba during the Spanish-American War.

The document bears general soiling and wear, and there is a small hole along one of the usual folds. While the signature of Pitcher is somewhat light, that of Arnold is bold and distinct.

Union Commodore

A lifelong navy man, born in New Orleans, Porter commanded Union naval forces at Ft. Henry, Vicksburg, Port Hudson, and Baton Rouge. He held no active command after promotion to commodore and died on May 1, 1864.

War-Date Signature, with sentiment and the rank Porter held from July 15, 1862 until his death during the Civil War, “Yours Respectfully, W.D. Porter, Commodore, U.S. N[avy],” on a 1 ¾” x 3 ¼” slip of paper.

Lightly and evenly toned, with old mounting traces on the reverse.

First Territorial Governor of Minnesota – 1849-53; Mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota – 1855-56; Civil War Governor of Minnesota – 1860-63; U.S. Congressman – Pennsylvania – 1843-47 & Senator - Minnesota – 1863-75; U.S. Secretary of War – 1879-81

Support from the Minnesota Territory Whigs for the New Administration of Millard Fillmore

Autograph Letter Signed, two pages, front and reverse of an 8” x 10” sheet, as territorial governor of Minnesota, to newly appointed U.S. Secretary of State Daniel Webster. In the month following the death of President Zachary Taylor, Ramsey expresses the support of the Whigs in the territory for the new administration of Millard Fillmore, further detailing the Whig Party’s domination of territorial politics over the opposition Democratic Party. Interesting in this context is Ramsey’s usage in conveying that the Whigs “have prevented the success of democracy.”

“St. Paul, Min[nesota] Ter[ritory], August 25, 1850. Hon, D. Webster. Dear Sir, I simply write to say how happy the whole body of the Whigs of Minnesota are in seeing you at the head of the New administration. They feel an assurance in your possession of the reins of gove[rnme]nt all will be well. In this remote Territory the Whigs are not few, so far by prudent measures they have prevented the success of the democracy & have fortunately elected their friends to all the local offices with the gift of the people that are of any account. At this time we are in the midst of the Canvass for the election of delegates. There are however no party candidates before the people for that office – that is they all claim to run without reference to party. This I believe is the first of our Territories in which the democrats as such have been kept out of power. We think we have some cause of pride in this state of things. Ardently attached to the administration, I should be pleased at any time, to learn of any manner in which I could serve it. Very respectfully Your ob[edien]t s[er]v[an]t, Alex. Ramsey.”

The sheet bears general soiling and wear, a few superficial edge chips, and smearing of ink to a few letters.

American Journalist & Politician; Founder of the The New York Times; Republican U.S. Congressman – New York – 1865-67

Signature, “H.J. Raymond,” on a 3” x 4” slip of yellow paper, with the signatures of influential newspapermen Samuel Sinclair, Robert Bonner, James Gordon Bennett, William White Harding, and S.P. Hanscom beneath.

There is general wear and soiling, along with two light folds.

Union Brigadier General - New York; Mortally Wounded at the Battle of Spotsylvania

After early-war service with the 39^th New York, Rice led the 44^th New York in the Peninsula campaign and at Second Manassas, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg, where his heroic defense of Little Round Top secured his promotion to brigadier. He was severely wounded while leading a brigade in Wadsworth's division at Spotsylvania and died from complications arising from the amputation of his leg.

Revealing a Movement of the Army of the Potomac to a Newspaperman!

War-Date Autograph Letter Signed, 5” x 7 ¾”. Writing on the day after Abraham Lincoln’s delivery of the Gettysburg Address, Rice orders a newspaper subscription and seeks the unknown recipient’s opinion of his report of the Battle of Gettysburg. For the presumed purpose of illustrating his importance as a correspondent, Rice further offers to submit letters for publication during the upcoming winter, astonishingly suggesting an imminent movement of the Army of the Potomac.

“Army of the Potomac, H[ea]d Q[uarte]rs 2^nd Brig. 1^st Div. 1^st Corps, November 20^th 1863. My dear Sir, I should be happy to have the Semi Weekly Post sent to my address. Whenever I have a safe opportunity, I will send you the amount of the annual subscription. Have you ever found time to look over my report of the battle of Gettysburgh? I hope during the coming winter to write a few letters for the Post. There are indications of the movement of this army in a day or two. Be so kind as to write me a few lines. Very sincerely Yours, J.C. Rice, Brig. Genl.”

Throughout the war, President Lincoln and the Union high command were routinely vexed by the reporting of troop movements in newspapers which could be readily obtained by Confederate sympathizers and spies. It is astounding that Rice, newly appointed to the rank of brigadier general for his gallantry at Gettysburg, would volunteer such information to a newspaperman.

The letter is lightly and evenly toned, with several light folds. A small strip of paper in the lower left corner, presumably removed due to its containing the name of the recipient, has been professionally restored.

 

After early-war service with the 39^th New York, Rice led the 44^th New York in the Peninsula campaign and at Second Manassas, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg, where his heroic defense of Little Round Top secured his promotion to brigadier. He was severely wounded while leading a brigade in Wadsworth's division at Spotsylvania and died from complications arising from the amputation of his leg.

 

War-Date Autograph Letter Signed, four pages, on a folded 5” x 8” letter-sheet, to a friend identified only as “Isaac.” Exhibiting a taste for combat rarely put into words by an officer so soon destined for higher command – Rice was appointed brigadier general shortly after the battle of Gettysburg - his exploits in the May 27, 1862 Peninsula campaign battle of Hanover Court House are dramatically related: “…I gave the rebel lines twelve rounds from my pistols and fifty from a musket…I went into that engagement with my whole soul, determined to gain a victory or die in the attempt, and we whipped the rascals after two hours of hard – terrible hard fighting.” There is further exceptional, patriotic content throughout, including Rice’s confident assurance that McClellan would soon take Richmond: “Genl. McClellan is collecting a great force here. Beauregard I think is at Richmond with 20 to 30,000 troops. We shall ‘bag’ them this time. It may take six weeks to do it, but it is a sure thing.” Ever mindful of fame and self-advancement, Rice speaks more than once of submitting his battle reports to the New York Evening Post.

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“Head Quarters 44^th N[ew] Y[ork] V[olunteers], 
Bivouac, New Bridge, V[irgini]a, 
June 12/[18]62. 

My dear Isaac,

Your very kind & welcome letter of the 7^th inst[ant] has just been rec[eive]d. I thank you for the kind notice you were pleased to take of my conduct on the field in the columns of the Evening Post. I did my duty in the engagement at Hanover Court House, as a Massachusetts man always does his duty – that is, by going into a fight, with the intention, and the express understanding that somebody will – yes- must be hurt. It gave me great pleasure to hurt somebody on that day in the severe struggle – at least. I gave the rebel lines twelve rounds from my pistols and fifty from a musket, besides attending strictly to other small duties, resting upon a Colonel of a regiment on such an occasion. In a word my dear Isaac, I went into that engagement with my whole soul, determined to gain a victory or die in the attempt, and we whipped the rascals after two hours of hard – terrible hard fighting. My official report, or a copy of the report I sent to the Evening Post, not by any means to have published as a report, but as the groundwork for a letter or an editorial, describing the battle. You are at liberty to read the manuscript. I think it will interest you. This report will be published officially in time. My conduct on the field has been greatly commended by my Superior Officers, but I see no great merit in my courage, because it is as natural for a proud son of Massachusetts to fight in this contest, and fight with his whole heart, as it was to go to her district schools, or churches, when a boy. Genl. McClellan is collecting a great force here. Beauregard I think is at Richmond with 20 to 30,000 troops. We shall ‘bag’ them this time. It may take six weeks to do it, but it is a sure thing. This is a rough letter, but it is written out in the field, in sight of the enemy, in a very hot day, so excuse the style. I hope you have noticed some correspondence of mine in the Columns of the Evening Post, within the last few weeks. Please give my kind regards to Mr. Nordhoff of the Post, who, although a stranger to me, has placed me under great obligation to him for his kindness. Do not allow this letter to be published, as it is for your eye alone. Be kind enough to bear my kindest regards to Mrs. Clark, and accept for yourself that kind remembrance, which, as in school boy and college days, I cherish now, and trust I ever shall, through life. I am very sincerely

your friend, 
James C. Rice, Lieut[enant] Col[onel].” 

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The prediction that McClellan would soon be in Richmond became poignantly ironic. General McClellan withdrew down the Peninsula in early July, the month after the bold assertion was made, and Rice was mortally wounded almost two years later, during Grant’s ultimately successful campaign to capture the Confederate capital. Interestingly, on the day Rice composed this letter, Confederate Cavalry General Jeb Stuart began his famous four-day ride around McClellan’s Army of the Potomac on the Peninsula, returning to Richmond on June 15, 1862.

Condition is excellent, with the usual light toning, along with two horizontal folds.

Union Major General – Ohio; U.S. Congressman – California – 1881-85

Rosecrans led the Army of the Cumberland at Murfreesboro and through the Tullahoma campaign to Chickamauga, where he was routed by the Confederates under Longstreet, a misadventure which effectively ended his military career. After the war, he settled near Los Angeles, serving as U.S. Congressman from California, 1881 – 1885.

Signed Card, 2” x 3 ½”, with rank, “W.S. Rosecrans, Maj[or] Genl.”

There is general soiling and wear, along with a few pinholes and light creases.

Union Brigadier General – Massachusetts; Awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for Gallantry in the Defense of Harpers Ferry, Virginia

An 1849 West Point graduate and veteran of the Seminole War, Saxton was commanding an artillery detachment at the St. Louis arsenal when the Civil War began. He assisted General Nathaniel Lyon in dispersing the pro-southern Missouri State Guard at Camp Jackson and subsequently became Lyon’s chief quartermaster. After being transferred east, Saxton commanded the defenses of Harpers Ferry in May and June of 1862, an action for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor. His primary function for the remainder of the war was the enlistment and organization of former slaves into the Federal Army. Upon the termination of hostilities, Saxton became an assistant commander in a division of the Freedmen’s Bureau.

Autograph Quotation Signed, from late life on a light 2 ½” x 4” card, expressing a sentiment of racial equality and harmony.

“Washington, D.C., March 8^th 1907. The different races of men are intensely human. Rufus Saxton, Brigadier General, Brevet Major General U.S.A.”

The card is lightly and evenly toned, and there are a few old mounting remnants on the reverse.

Union Brigadier General – Massachusetts; Awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for Gallantry in the Defense of Harpers Ferry, Virginia

An 1849 West Point graduate and veteran of the Seminole War, Saxton was commanding an artillery detachment at the St. Louis arsenal when the Civil War began. He assisted General Nathaniel Lyon in dispersing the pro-southern Missouri State Guard at Camp Jackson and subsequently became Lyon’s chief quartermaster.  After being transferred east, Saxton commanded the defenses of Harpers Ferry in May and June of 1862, an action for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor. His primary function for the remainder of the war was the enlistment and organization of former slaves into the Federal Army. Upon the termination of hostilities, Saxton became an assistant commander in a division of the Freedmen’s Bureau.

Civil War-Date Autograph Letter Signed, 8” x 10”. While serving as quartermaster on the Port Royal expedition, Saxton directs the delivery of hay and coal for the use of Union forces at Hilton Head, South Carolina. Docketing on the reverse dates this letter to December 19, 1861, shortly after Hilton Head was taken, establishing a base for future Union operations along the coast of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.

“Capt[ain] [Herbert] Hascall. The bark Chas. Keen has 290 bales of hay on board for this Dept. She has also Coal for the Navy Dept. She has three days to unload for us & two for the Navy. The hay is on top. Will you please have the hay taken out…Yours, Rufus Saxton, Capt[ain] U.S.A., A[ssistant] Q[uarter] M[aster].”

The letter is lightly and evenly toned, with two horizontal folds and a few small stains. There is very slight loss of paper in the upper left corner.

U.S. Secretary of State - 1861-69

Despite being a contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 1860, Seward served effectively in Lincoln’s cabinet. He was seriously injured on the night of April 14, 1865, in the assassination plot which took the life of Lincoln. His most notable post-war achievement was the acquisition of Alaska in 1867.

Signed the Day before the Assassination of President Abraham Lincoln and the Attempt on Seward’s Life by Lewis Powell

Document Signed, 8” x 10”, Washington, D.C., April 13, 1865, "William H. Seward,” as U.S. Secretary of State. Signed the day before the assassination of President Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth and the attempt on Seward’s life by his associate, Lewis Powell, the partly printed document transmits “…a true copy of an act of Congress entitled ‘An Act for the relief of Solomon Wadsworth,’ approved February 13, 1865; the original of which is on file in this Department.” With another significant association, the copy of the Congressional Act, H.R. 431, bound between the letter-sheet pages with ribbon at the left edge, is signed in print at the conclusion by House of Representatives Clerk Edward McPherson, on whose Pennsylvania farm the battle of Gettysburg began.

The document is lightly toned, and there are a few chips and wear at the upper left edge and the seal.