Union Rear Admiral

A distant cousin of Robert E. Lee, Samuel P. Lee remained loyal to the Union when war erupted in 1861. He commanded numerous ships during the course of the war, most notably on blockade duty, from which he received more than $100,000 in prize money for the capture of Confederate blockade runners.

Letter Signed, 8” x 13 ½”. As commander of the North Atlantic Fleet in Key West, Florida, Lee directs Commodore Joseph F. Green in the use of coal for U.S. Navy vessels at St. Thomas, due to the expiration of a contract for its receipt and storage.

“U.S.S. Severn (2^nd Rate), Key West, Fl[orid]a, February 13^th 1871. Commodore Joseph F. Green, U.S.A., Commander of Squadron, North Atlantic Fleet, or Senior Naval Officer in Dominican Waters. Sir, The Bureau of Equipment and Recruiting under date of January 24^th 1871 informs me that as it intends to discontinue its contract with Mrs. Johanna Gordon, from and after the 24^th June next, (the date of its expiration) for the receiving, storing &c. of the Government coal at St. Thomas, it is desirable that the stock of Coal on hand (263 tons) as per report of 25 Dec[ember] 1870, should be used up before the expiration of the contract. Please therefore give such directions to cruisers under your command, as will accomplish this object. When the stock of Coal on hand has been used up, Coal may be bought at ‘St. Thomas,’ to the best interests of the Government, whenever required by cruisers touching at that port. Respectfully Yours, S.P.Lee, Rear Admiral Com[mandin]g N[orth] A[tlantic] Fleet.”

The letter has three horizontal folds, and there is a diagonal break, with no loss of paper, at center left. A strip of old paper backing along the left edge is still present.

Sixteenth U.S. President - 1861-65

A Request for a Lieutenant’s Promotion – Just Two Months Before He was Mortally Wounded at Cedar Creek

“The above, written by a very good man, is submitted to the Secretary of War. A. Lincoln.”

Noted as a resident of Allentown, Pennsylvania in the accompanying National Archives records, Mr. Baldwin was undoubtedly a caller at the Executive Mansion, and was directed to write his request, hoping that President Lincoln would approve and advance it through the proper channels. His letter, accomplished in pencil, in full:

“Aug. 12^th 1864. To His Excellency, Abraham Lincoln, President of the U.S. I desire the transfer or promotion of my brother, Lt. Henry M. Baldwin, Battery M, 5^th Reg[imen]t U.S. Artillery, to any vacancy in the Regt. which you may decide it possible to place him, consistent with the good of the service. Very Resp[ectfull]y, F.H. Baldwin.”

There is no record of Lieutenant Baldwin’s promotion or transfer before he was severely wounded through the chest and left arm on October 19, 1864 – just two months later - at the Battle of Cedar Creek. He died on November 8, 1864 at Sheridan Hospital, near Winchester, Virginia.

The letter is in excellent condition, with creases from two vertical folds.                                                                                      

Sixteenth U.S. President - 1861-65

Civil War-Date Document Signed, 15” x 19”, as President, Washington, July 29, 1861, “Abraham Lincoln,” a partly printed appointment for “…Stephen Brooks…Surveyor of the Customs for the District of Middletown in the State of Connecticut.” Countersigned by the Secretary of the Treasury, “S.P. Chase.”

The document is in excellent overall condition, with light age toning and several minor paper breaks at the intersections of the usual folds. Both signatures are distinct and free from flaw in every respect.

Sixteenth U.S. President - 1861-65

Civil War-Date Franked Envelope, 3” x 5 ¼”, as President, “A. Lincoln.” The envelope is also addressed by Lincoln, to “Rev[erend] Z.P. Wilds, 120 Prince Street, New York,” and has a June 21, 1862, Washington postmark.

The previous day, Lincoln met with a six-member delegation of Progressive Friends, composed of Thomas Garrett, Alice Eliza Hambleton, Oliver Johnson, Dinah Mendenhall, William Barnard, and Eliza Agnew. The group presented the President with a memorial, urging him to decree the emancipation of the slaves, the position adopted at the Friends’ annual meeting. It is quite worthy of note that Lincoln wrote Reverend Wilds, well known as a longtime missionary to the poor of New York City, the day following his meeting with this group of prominent leaders in the Abolition and Underground Railroad movements.

Set into an attractive, inlaid pedestal frame, the envelope bears general soiling and wear, along with minor paper loss along the right edge and above the somewhat smudged postmark.

Union Major General – Illinois; U.S. Senator & Congressman - Illinois

Logan’s successes at Belmont and Atlanta won the praise of both Sherman and Grant, who considered him to be one of the best civilian generals in the army. Logan is also the founder of Memorial Day.

Autograph Quotation Signed, on a 2 ¼” x 6 ¾” portion of an album page.

“One of the bright jewels in our nature, is true friendship. John A. Logan. April 20 – [18]83.”

A few small stains detract very little, and there is a strip of old tape along the right edge on the reverse.

Union Major General – Illinois; U.S. Senator & Congressman - Illinois

Despite his appointment as a political general, Logan served with distinction in Civil War battles from Belmont through Atlanta, winning the praise of both Sherman and Grant, who considered him to be one of the best civilian generals in the army. Logan is also the founder of Memorial Day.

Orders Against Depredations on Confederate Civilians

Civil War-Date Autograph Note Signed, undated, on a 5” x 7 ½” sheet of lined paper. As major general in the Union Army of the Tennessee under the command of General William Tecumseh Sherman, Logan directs that orders prohibiting depredations against the Confederate populace, specifically a lady under Logan’s protection, be sent to the commander of the 5^th Ohio Infantry.

“…you will send a note to the com[man]d[in]g officer of the 5^th Ohio, that his men must be stopped searching houses & committing depredations in the country. They have searched, hence of, Ladies having my protection, Miss [?] 8 miles from town. John A. Logan, Maj. Genl.”

The 5^th Ohio had served in the East through the battle of Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, November 24, 1863, being the unit’s first engagement after its transfer to the West. As General Logan was not in Chattanooga at that time, this directive was undoubtedly issued either during the May through September 1864 campaign and siege to take Atlanta or in Sherman’s march from Savannah, Georgia through the Carolinas, begun in January 1865. Logan again led a corps under Sherman in that war-ending campaign, during which the 5^th Ohio was incorporated into the 20^th Corps.

While post-war autographs and letters from his time in the U.S. Congress are readily available, war-date manuscripts by Logan, particularly with the exceptional content seen here, are rarely encountered. Overall condition is excellent, with light, even toning and two vertical folds.

Union Brigadier General - New Hampshire; U.S. Congressman – New Hampshire – 1859-63 & 1865-67; U.S. Senator – New Hampshire - 1889

Marston recruited and led the 2^nd New Hampshire at First Bull Run, the Peninsula, and Fredericksburg. After Gettysburg, he was assigned to establish the prison camp at Point Lookout and returned to the Army of the Potomac for the disastrous Union assault at Cold Harbor.

Marston Writes of the Hard Fighting at Drewry’s Bluff

War-Date Autograph Letter Signed, three pages, on a 5” x 8” letter-sheet. Writing to an unnamed cousin from the scene of the Union’s just-concluded attempt to take Richmond, Marston shares details of the hard fighting, and concludes with information relating to political events in his native New Hampshire. In the campaign which came to be known as Drewry’s Bluff, begun on May 6, 1864, Benjamin Butler’s Army of the James advanced overland toward Richmond from the Bermuda Hundred, just north of City Point. As indicated in this letter, the Federal Army came within six miles of the Confederate capital before being repulsed in a counterattack by troops under P.G.T. Beauregard on May 16, successfully delaying the fall of Richmond by almost a year.

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“In the Field near Drewry’s Bluff, May 19, [18]64.

Friend Cousin,

Your brother in [?] wrote me to know what had become of you, but I suppose you have reported before this as Wilkinson tells me you started for home some days ago. Since I started on this campaign I have had little opportunity to hear from or write to anyone. For nearly a week I had no opportunity of sending letters if I had the time to write them. It has been the hardest kind of campaigning I have ever known. Marching, fighting, sleeping on the ground without tents, fire or even a blanket. I have several times undertaken to write a short note but before I could complete it everybody would be called to arms to repel a charge or make an attack. I have had to write orders and reports with a tree for a table while shot and shells were crashing through the branches. The rebels are pressing us about as hard as we are pressing them and last night they shelled our camps. But I imagine we shall soon reverse all this and drive them within their earthen walls about Richmond and force an entrance ourselves. The right wing of the army got within 6 or 7 miles of Richmond on the 16^th but that 6 or 7 miles we shall find a much harder road to travel than that we have passed over. I have re[ceive]d only three or four letters from N.H. since I left Yorktown and not one from Washington. Probably people don’t know where I am and I hardly know myself. That it is all woods, swamps & ravines with but very little land in cultivation I know very well.

What new thing has turned up about the Senatorship – anything? Wilkinson had a letter from his brother saying Tuck was about played out & that Rollins he thought was gaining a little. I am told also that the Boston Advertiser is down on me for not supporting Joel and us not being in the front rank of republicans &c &c. That is Tuck of course. His hand may not have written the article but his mean spirit dictated it. Well, we have had to deal with these fellows before and whatever else they may do they cannot defeat us.

I should like for you to write me and let me know the present aspect of affairs.

When I will get time to write again I don’t know. My command occupies me every moment.

Yours very truly, G. Marston.

Remember me kindly to friend Gale.”

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The sheets are lightly and evenly toned, with the usual horizontal folds, and there is light water staining throughout.

Union Major General; Democratic U.S. Presidential Candidate - 1864

McClellan graduated second in the West Point class of 1846, served in the Mexican War and, at the outbreak of the Civil War, was appointed major general. In August 1861, after the Federal disaster at First Manassas, he assumed command of the Army of the Potomac. From this point forward, McClellan’s organizational ability was offset by his hesitance in pursuing the enemy, causing Lincoln to permanently relieve him in November 1862, after the battle of Antietam. He ran unsuccessfully against Lincoln as the Democratic Presidential candidate in the election of 1864.

After the Failed Assault of the Fifty-Fourth Massachusetts Infantry - McClellan Gives Advice for Taking Fort Wagner

Civil War-Date Autograph Letter Signed, 1 ½ pages, on the first and third leaves of an 8” x 10” letter-sheet, to “Col[onel] H.L. Abbott.” Just ten months after his dismissal from command of the Army of the Potomac by President Lincoln, McClellan advises Colonel Henry Larcom Abbot, later brevetted brigadier general, in the best means for taking Fort Wagner. It is somewhat curious, yet perhaps inevitable, that Abbot is seeking McClellan’s counsel, in light of his being relieved of command the previous year.

“Orange, New Jersey, Sept[ember] 5, 1863. My dear Col., Your kind letter of the 21^st, with its enclosures, has arrived. I have read the experiments with much interest, & would be glad to have the result of any similar ones you may make. I am inclined to think that an elaborate system of experiments upon the breaching of thick parapets of sand & earth would be of interest just now – altho’ I expect [Fort] Wagner and its companions will have to be taken in some such way as the [?] was viz: drive the garrison into their bombproofs by mortar firing, & then march into the work before they can get out of their shelters. Gil[l]more will have to use more mortars before he gets through. Please thank Col. White for remembering my request. Give my kindest regards to all my friends in the Reg[imen]t. Mrs. McC[lellan] desires to write in this request, as she regards herself as having peculiar claims on your Reg[imen]t. With my thanks for the update, I am ever your friend, Geo. B. McClellan.”

Less than two miles from Fort Sumter, Fort Wagner was the South’s principal land defense of Morris Island, South Carolina, guarding the southern approach to the harbor of Charleston. On July 18, 1863, just six weeks before this letter was written, the 54^th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, famously composed of black troops, led a frontal assault on the fortification, losing the regiment’s organizer, Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, along with twenty-five percent of its number, in the attack. Fort Wagner was never taken by force; after the disastrous assault of July 18, a formal siege began. A subsequent assault, ordered for September 7, proved unnecessary, as the fort and all other Confederate works on Morris Island had been abandoned the night before.

There is light, even toning, and the text of the letter is unaffected by a few small holes and clean paper separation at the edges of the usual folds.

U.S. Treasury Secretary – 1865-69 & 1884-85

Signature, “Hugh McCulloch,” on a 2 ¼” x 4” slip of paper. A small image is affixed to the lower left corner; the signature is, in turn, mounted to a 5 ½” x 8 ½” album page, with the notation, “Secretary of the Treasury 1867,” in another hand above.

The signed slip is lightly and evenly toned. The larger album page has several chips and binding holes along the left edge, along with two horizontal folds.

Union Major General - Ohio

An 1853 graduate of West Point, McPherson entered the war as first lieutenant of engineers, seeing action at Forts Henry & Donelson, Shiloh, and Corinth. As major general of volunteers, he commanded the 17^th Corps through the Vicksburg Campaign, winning the praise of both Grant and Sherman. McPherson was killed-in-action on July 22,1864, during Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign.

War-Date Signature, with rank, “Jas. B. McPherson, Maj. Genl.” on a 1 ½” x 3 ¾” slip of paper.

Canadian-Born Journalist; Editor of the Chicago Tribune; Mayor of Chicago – 1871-73

As influential editor of the Chicago Tribune, Medill was instrumental in the nomination of Abraham Lincoln for the presidency, and remained his staunch supporter throughout the Civil War. He served one term in office as mayor of Chicago, from 1871 to 1873.

Document Signed, Chicago, Illinois, June 25, 1873, “J. Medill,” as Chicago mayor, a partly printed 3 ¼” x 7 ½” check, payable to “Short & Brayton” for $44 and drawn on the Chicago Police Fund.

There are a few pinholes along the left edge, which has been trimmed slightly, along with several edge tears. The signature is unaffected by a punch cancellation at the center.

Union Brevet Brigadier General; Union Colonel – 16^th New York Heavy Artillery

Civil War-Date Document Signed, 3 ½” x 8”, a manuscript note certifying that 16^th New York Lieutenant David Patterson is present with his regiment.

“Camp U.S. Forces, Gloucester Point, Va., March 17^th 1864. I hereby Certify: that David Patterson, a private of Battery ‘G’, Lieut. M[orris] F. Sheppard commanding 16^th RegimentNew York State Volunteer Artillery is present with his Regiment. J.J. Morrison, Colonel Com[an]d[in]g Post and 16^th Regt. N.Y. S[tate] Vol[unteer] Artillery.”

The center horizontal fold and a diagonal tear in the lower right corner have been reinforced on the reverse, and there is general soiling and wear throughout.

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.

Signed Card, 1 ¾” x 4”, “Jno. G. Nicolay.”

The card has light toning and soiling.

Union Brigadier General – Pennsylvania; Awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for Bravery in the Battle of Fort Fisher, January 15, 1865

A Pennsylvania native, Pennypacker saw Civil War action at Fort Wagner, Drewry's Bluff, and Fort Fisher, where he was severely wounded - his bravery there earning the Medal of Honor and a promotion to brevet brigadier general. Wounded a total of seven times during the war, Pennypacker was the youngest general officer ever appointed in the service of the United States.

Signed Album Page, 5” x 9”, “G. Pennypacker, U.S. Army. Philadelphia, Jan[uar]y 16^th 1893.”

There is somewhat heavier toning in the outer margins, along with a small chip at the upper edge.

Union Admiral; Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy – 1865-69

Porter received the surrender of Forts Jackson and St. Philip, and was indispensable in the siege and subsequent Union victory at Vicksburg.

A Baseball Game at the Naval Academy - “Some of the midshipmen who were playing ball, threw their bats up and knocked it down…”

Letter Signed, 8” x 10”, three pages, with the final few lines, closing, and signature on the fourth page of an imprinted letter-sheet.

As superintendent of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, Admiral Porter sends information to Frederick A. Pike, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Naval Affairs. Discussed at great length is an incident involving the rumored burning in effigy of a Mr. Kelley, quite possibly William “Pig-Iron” Kelley, a prominent U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania. Particularly unusual and interesting is Porter’s mention of a baseball game among the midshipmen at the academy, specifically their attempt to retrieve the presumed effigy from a tree: “Some of the midshipmen who were playing ball, threw their bats up and knocked it down…”

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In full:

“U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, M[arylan]d.
M[ar]ch: 27 1868.

My Dear Sir:

I have received your bill, for which please accept my thanks. I think you have covered all the ground and it is the best bill I have seen drawn up for a long time, barring that little matter of the marines that I talked to you about. I feel very much mortified that Mr. Kelley should have heard such a falsehood in connection with the midshipmen. Then origin of the report was from a circumstance that occurred here about five weeks ago, which I have reason to believe was disseminated by an Engineer here I suppose to suit their purposes. At the time I mention we had some theatricals here from which there remained some stuffed figures. Three or four midshipmen were skylarking up stairs and chasing each other in their rooms and threw the figure out from the balcony where it lodged in a tree. Some of the midshipmen who were playing ball, threw their bats up at it and knocked it down. Several of them commenced chasing each other around with it, and pulling it to pieces. There were only five midshipmen engaged in the affair. I heard next day, that one of the midshipmen had sung out Mr. Kelley’s name, upon which I immediately sent for these five young gentlemen, who assured me that there was not the slightest intention of being disrespectful to Mr. Kelley, that the lark was not a premeditated one, and that they regretted exceedingly that any act should have been committed that would lead me to suppose that they intended anything disrespectful.

This is about the amount of the whole affair. Had I supposed or discovered that there was any intention of being disrespectful to Mr. Kelley or any one holding the position that he does I would have done my best to have the offenders dismissed from the Academy.

Mr. Kelley is too highly appreciated by officers of the navy to allow of any disrespect towards him. This only goes to show to what mean things a certain class of officers in the Navy will resort to. We have never had anything but trouble with these engineers since they have been connected with the Academy and I hope the time will come when they will no longer have any connection with it. All we want is thre or four good mechanics to teach the midshipmen the practical workings of an engine and the theory of steam can be studied in the Philosophical Department.

[I] hope Mr. Kelley will not attach the slightest importance to the affair I have mentioned. What he has heard is quite untrue.

I remain Yours,
Very truly & Respectfully,

David D. Porter.

Hon[orable]:
F.A. Pike,
U.S. House of Representatives.”

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The pages are lightly and evenly toned, with clean paper separation at the edges of the usual folds, numerous small edge chips and tears, and smearing of ink to the first portion of Porter’s signature. A three-quarter inch hole, from past mounting by the lower half of the blank final page, has caused the loss of one letter of text, noted by the bracketed first letter “I” of the letter’s final paragraph.

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.

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.