American Historian & Diplomat; U.S. Navy Secretary – 1845-46; U.S. Minister to Great Britain – 1846-49; Governor of Massachusetts – 1844

SHUBRICK, WILLIAM BRANFORD (1790-1874) U.S. Navy Rear Admiral; Awarded a Congressional Medal for Gallant Conduct in the War of 1812

Mexican War-Date Letter Signed, 8” x 10”, Navy Department, April 27, 1846, “Geo. Bancroft,” as U.S. Navy Secretary during the presidency of James K. Polk, to “Mr. John Clapham, Gunner U.S. Navy, Paterson, N.J.” Just three days after the United States declared war with Mexico, Clapham is ordered to report to Commodore William B. Shubrick for duty at Washington, D.C. In the lower margin, Shubrick further directs Clapham, “Report to Commander D… W. Branford Shubrick, 5^th May 1846.”

A lifelong navy man, Shubrick was awarded a Congressional Medal, the antebellum precursor to the Congressional Medal of Honor, for gallant conduct during the War of 1812. As commander–in-chief of the U.S. naval force in the Pacific during the war with Mexico, he was responsible for the capture of several port cities in Mexico and southern California. In 1862, Shubrick was promoted to rear admiral on the retired list.

The sheet bears scattered foxing and light wear and staining along two horizontal folds. While the signature of Bancroft is light, Shubrick’s notation is quite distinct.

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

As colonel of the 20^th Maine, Chamberlain gallantly defended Little Round Top, preventing a Confederate victory at Gettysburg.

Addressed Envelope, 3” x 5 ½”, as Governor of Maine, to his wife, Fanny.

“Mrs. F.C. Chamberlain, Stevens House, New York City, N.Y.”

This ornate, official envelope has ink staining at the conclusion of Chamberlain’s address, and there are several tears, with no loss of paper, in the upper and lower left margins.

Union Lieutenant Colonel – Awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for Gallantry at the Battle of Salem Heights, Virginia, May 3, 1863; U.S. Brigadier General of Volunteers – Spanish-American War

Document Signed, 8 ½” x 11”, June 9, 1874, “Jno. C. Gilmore, Captain 24[th] Inf[an]try,” a partly printed document certifying Gilmore’s pay of $180 for the month of May 1874. The document is also accomplished by Gilmore, thus bearing a second signature in the heading, “Captain J.C. Gilmore, 24[th] U.S. Infantry.”

Overall condition is very good, with light, even toning and two vertical folds.

Union Brigadier General – Vermont; Awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for the Capture of Three Regimental Flags at Chancellorsville

As lieutenant colonel, Grant led the 5^th Vermont Infantry at Savage’s Station – where the unit suffered losses in killed and wounded among the highest of any engagement of the war – and, as colonel, at Fredericksburg, where he was wounded. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his command’s capture of three regimental flags at Chancellorsville, and later saw action under Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley and at Petersburg, where he was again wounded.

Autograph Letter Signed, 1 ½ pages, on the first and third leaves of a folded 5” x 8” letter-sheet. Addressing “Col. R.A. Kennedy,” quite possibly former 5^th Vermont Infantry Colonel Ronald A. Kennedy, Grant discusses an unspecified matter being considered by the quartermaster general. In concluding, he refers to a letter from Union Brevet Brigadier General Richard Napoleon Batchelder, himself a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor for gallantry against Mosby’s guerrillas during the Civil War.

“Minneapolis, Minn[esota], Nov[ember] 1/[18]94. Col. R.A. Kennedy. My D[ea]r Sir, I have yours of Oct. 22, & will now tell you what I did. I enclosed your letter of Oct. 16 in my letter to the Quartermaster General. I thought the plain and honest statement of the matter as given by yourself to one in whom you had some confidence & evidently not intended for the eye of any official, would tend to give a favorable impression. Herewith I hand you the letter of the Quartermaster General rec[eive]d a few days ago which please return after perusal. It is about as I expected, & I think I so suggested. I avoided making my letter to the Q[uarter] M[aster] G[eneral] official lest your letter would be placed on file, & you will note that Gen. Batchelder’s letter to me is not made official. Allow me to congratulate you that all is well. Truly Yours, L.A. Grant.”

The letter is accompanied by the 3 ½” x 6” transmittal envelope, addressed by Grant, to “Col. R.A. Kennedy, Supt. Natl. Cemetery, Lebanon, Ky.,” and signed in the upper left corner, as the return-address recipient, “L.A. Grant, care of J.C. Grant…”

The letter is lightly and evenly toned, with two horizontal folds. The envelope bears light soiling and wear, and the right edge was irregularly torn when opened; portions of Grant’s return-address signature are light.

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 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.

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 – 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.