Union Major General - Ohio; Awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for Distinguished Bravery at the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee, November 30, 1864

An 1852 West Point graduate, Stanley saw Civil War action in the West from Wilson's Creek through Franklin, where his actions earned the Congressional Medal of Honor. After the war, he served in Dakota, New Mexico, and Texas on the western frontier.

Autograph Quotation Signed, on a 4” x 7” album page.

“Youth is the heyday of life. Enjoy it Dear Josie, whilst we elders applaud. D.S. Stanley, Col[onel] 22^nd Inf[an]t[r]y, B[re]v[e]t Maj[or] Gen[era]l.”

On the reverse is the signature, “G.H. Patten, L[ieutenan]t 22^nd Inf[antry], Santa Fe, Dec[ember] 10, [18]83.”

The sheet is lightly and evenly toned, with a few small stains.

Union Brigadier General – Pennsylvania; Colonel of the 7^th U.S. Cavalry – 1869-88

A West Point graduate and lifelong soldier, Sturgis saw action in the Mexican War and against the Indians on the western frontier during the years leading up to the Civil War. During the Civil War, he participated in the battles of Wilson’s Creek, Second Manassas, Sharpsburg, and Fredericksburg. Transferred west, Sturgis was routed by Nathan Bedford Forrest at Brice’s Cross Roads, after which he held no field command. In 1869, Sturgis was appointed colonel of the 7^th Cavalry, a position he held at the time of the massacre of Custer and his command at the Little Big Horn.

“…I was what was called a ‘49er, and it was at San Louis Obispo, that in the Spring of 1849, I prepared and fitted out my small Company of Dragoons for an expedition against the Indians in the neighborhood of the Tulare lakes & the head of King’s River.”

Autograph Letter Signed, three pages, on individual sheets of 5 ½” x 8 ½” hotel stationery, imprinted “The Ebbitt: C.C. Willard, Prop., Washington, D.C.” In a humble, gracious response to an autograph request from a young girl in San Luis Obispo, California, Sturgis provides a satisfying reminiscence of his Gold Rush-era military exploits in the region.

“March 10, 1886. Miss Mary C. Day, San Louis Obispo, Cal. My dear Young lady, you very kind and complimentary note only reached me yesterday and I hasten to enclose my Autograph in compliance with your request. You will be surprised perhaps to learn that I was what was called a ‘49er, and it was at San Louis Obispo, that in the Spring of 1849, I prepared and fitted out my small Company of Dragoons for an expedition against the Indians in the neighborhood of the Tulare lakes & the head of King’s River. In those days San Louis Obispo was simply an old Mission, but it is probably now a thriving town. The world has changed so much since those days. Hoping that this will not be so long in reaching you as Yours was in reaching me, and thanking you again for the compliment implied in your request for my Autograph, believe me, Very Sincerely Your o[bedien]t ser[van]t, S.D. Sturgis.”

Light, even toning, the usual folds, and old paper clip stains in the upper margins detract very little.

Governor of Ohio – 1862-64

War-Date Document Signed, as Ohio Governor, April 17, 1863, “David Tod,” a partly printed 9 ½” x 12” appointment for “…Jas. W. Hughs…Justice of the Peace for the Township of Berlin in the County of Mahoning…” Countersigned by Ohio Secretary of State “Wm. W. Armstrong.”

One of the usual vertical folds passes through Tod’s signature, and there are numerous small stains.

Union Navy Captain; U.S. Navy Rear Admiral – 1870-71

A lifelong navy man, Walke was instrumental in saving Fort Pickens for the Union when the Civil War broke out in 1861. He was actively engaged at Forts Henry and Donelson, Island No. 10, and in the bombardment and siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Tranferring Men to the Lafayette - Before Her Departure for Vicksburg

Civil War-Date Letter Signed, 8” x 10”, to “Paymaster F.M. Hawley, U.S. Steamer ‘Carondelet,’ Miss[issippi] Squadron,” directing the transfer of four men to the Lafayette.

“U.S. Steamer ‘Lafayette,’ Cairo, Ill[inoi]s, Jan[uary] 31^st 1863. Sir: You will please transfer the following men from the ‘Carondelet’ to this vessel, from Jan[uary] 18^th 1863 – the day they left the ‘Carondelet’: John G. Morrison, John Ford, Terry Robinson, Benjamin Holmes, and Maurice Phillips. Very Respectfully, Your Obed[ien]t Servant, H. Walke, Captain U.S. Navy.”

Under Walke’s command, the Lafayette, an iron-clad ram, would soon embark down the Mississippi River, where she ran the batteries at Vicksburg to participate in the battle of Grand Gulf on April 29, 1863. The Confederate stronghold at Vicksburg was surrendered to Union Major General Ulysses S. Grant just two months later, on July 4, 1863.

The letter is lightly and evenly toned, with two horizontal folds.

Union Colonel – 12^th Massachusetts Infantry – Killed-in-Action at Second Bull Run; Son of Daniel Webster

War-Date Document Signed, 8 ½” x 12 ¾”, Fort Warren, Massachusetts, June 13, 1861, “Fletcher Webster, Colonel,” an early, partly printed appointment for “…Preston Soule of Boston…a Sergeant of Company A, in the 12^th Regt. of Infantry…of the Volunteer Militia of Massachusetts.”

Like Webster, Sergeant Soule would not survive the war. He died of disease in New York City on May 14, 1862.

There is heavier wear, toning, and paper weakness along three vertical folds, and the edges bear numerous superficial chips and tears.

Union Brigadier General – Vermont; Awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for the Battle of Gettysburg

After enlisting in the only cavalry regiment raised in the state of Vermont during the war, Wells saw action in the Shenandoah under Banks and at Gettysburg, where his distinguished service in Farnsworth’s Brigade earned the Congressional Medal of Honor. He took an active role in Grant’s Overland campaign of 1864 and served with the cavalry under Sheridan through the war’s end.

Document Signed, 2 ¾” x 7 ½”, Burlington, Vermont, January 31, 1875, “Wm. Wells,” a partly printed check, drawn on the Merchants National Bank of Burlington and made payable to George B. Freeman for $77.50.

There are several light folds and creases and a few pinholes. The signature is unaffected by cancellations at the center.

Union Brigadier General – Vermont; Awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for the Battle of Gettysburg

After enlisting in the only cavalry regiment raised in the state of Vermont during the war, Wells saw action in the Shenandoah under Banks and at Gettysburg, where his distinguished service in Farnsworth’s Brigade earned the Congressional Medal of Honor. He took an active role in Grant’s Overland campaign of 1864 and served with the cavalry under Sheridan through the war’s end.

Document Signed, 2 ¾” x 8”, Burlington, Vermont, April 30, 1878, “Wm. Wells,” a partly printed check, drawn on the Merchants National Bank of Burlington and made payable to George B. Freeman for ninety dollars. The check has been signed over to Wells, who signs a second time on the reverse.

There are several light vertical folds and a few pinholes.

Union Major General

A veteran of the War of 1812 and a Mexican War Brigadier General, Wool saw limited Civil War service due to his advanced age; he was retired from the U.S. Army on August 1, 1863.

Civil War-Date Autograph Letter Signed, 5” x 8”, to “Henry R. Howland, Esqr., Harlem, N.Y.”  Writing on imprinted stationery as commander of the Department of Virginia at Fort Monroe, Wool concisely and proudly recounts the Mexican War exploits which earned him a brevet to major general, along with the official thanks of the U.S. Congress which included a presentation sword.

“5^th March 1862. My dear Sir, In reply to your favor of the 3^rd instant just received I would remark, that I was brevetted a Major General the 23^rd of February 1847 for gallant and distinguished conduct in the Battle of Buena Vista, called by Santa Anna Angustina, the Thermopylae of Mexico, when he was driven from the field after seven attacks with 15,000 men against less than 4000 Americans. I am Very respectfully your ob[e]d[ien]t serv[an]t, John E. Wool.”

Requesting of Howland, at this time a young writer, that his letter not be printed in its entirety, Wool has penned an instruction in the upper margin, “This letter is not to be published. The parts you can use -”

The letter is lightly and evenly toned, with the usual folds, light creases and superficial stains. There are old mounting traces on the blank final page of the letter-sheet.