Autograph Letter Signed, 4 ½” x 7”, two pages on the first and third leaves of a folded lettersheet.  On black-bordered mourning stationery, Mrs. McClellan responds to a request for her husband’s autograph, probably just months after his death on October 29, 1885.

“32 Washington Square, Jan[uar]y 20^th.  Wm. H Jones, Esq[uire].  Dear Sir, Mr. Curtis writes me that you would like an autograph of General McClellan to put in Mr. Curtis’ little book.  I have no note or letter that I can [s]end, but I enclose his signature which I have cut from a check.  Yours truly, Ellen M. McClellan.”

Lightly and evenly toned, with a horizontal fold at the center; there are a few minor chips to the black border, and a diagonal horizontal fold transverses the lower portion of both pages.

Civil War-Date Document Signed

Document Signed, 8” x 10”, “Approved, Danl. McCook, Co[lone]l Com[man]d[in]g Brigade,” a requisition for service to the Quartermaster’s Department of the 52^nd Ohio Infantry, August 30 to November 18, 1862.

Lightly and evenly toned, with heavier staining along two horizontal folds; water staining at the left and the center fold, well away from McCook’s endorsement.

Civil War-Date Letter Signed

Letter Signed, 7 ¾” x 9 ¾”, an early-ear communication regarding supplies needed for the Seventh Brigade, under General James Negley.

“Head Quarters Second Division, Camp Wood [Kentucky], Dec[ember] 16, 1861.

Capt[ain] J.F. Boyd
As[sistan]t Q[uarte]r Master.

Sir,

I have the honor herewith to enclose, a memorandum of the wants of the Q[uarte]r Masters Dep[artmen]t of the 7^th Brigade.  Gen[era]l Negley informs me he has, made several requisitions for the articles, without obtaining them.  You will please ereport to these Head Quarters why the articles have not been furnished.

I am Sir, very respectfully,
Your Obedient Servant,

Danl. McCook
As[sistan]t Adj[utan]t Gen[era]l.”

Lightly and evenly toned, with two horizontal folds, several light surface creases, and a few old paper and hinge remnants on the reverse.

Document Signed, 4 ¾” x 7 ½”, St. Louis Missouri, September 4, 1861, “J. McKinstry,” accomplished in another hand, a partly printed pass for a “Mrs. Sarah McIntyre to pass beyond the limits of the City and County of St. Louis, to go to Ohio.”

A rare autograph on an interesting, seldom-seen form, this being the first McKinstry piece we have encountered.  Moderate toning throughout, with several stains; heavier wear and soiling along two vertical folds, with negligible separation at the edges.

Signature, with closing and rank, “Respectfully, L. McLaws, 2^nd Lieut[enant] 7^th Inf[antry]” on a 1” x 3 ¼” slip of paper removed from a Mexican War-era letter; affixed to a larger, heavier card.  McLaws held the rank of Second Lieutenant in the Seventh U.S. Infantry from March 16, 1844 until February 16, 1847.

Moderately toned, with minor staining and soiling; closely clipped at the upper edge.

War-Date Confederate Bond

Document Signed, 14” x 17”, April 1, 1861, “A.B. Moore,” a partly printed $1000 bond “ISSUED FOR MILITARY DEFENSE” of the state of Alabama, serial number 314.  Countersigned by State Comptroller W.J. Greene, with a pink embossed seal at the lower left.  Thirteen of the original coupons remain attached at the bottom.  Supporting material states that this issue is given the highest rarity rating of “R11” by Confederate Bond Authority Grover C. Criswell.

Lightly toned, with tiny holes at the intersections of the expected folds and a few small tears at the edges.

Civil War-Date Document - Pay for a 101^st Indiana Infantry soldier who died one week later.

Document Signed, 8 ¼” x 10”, Nashville, Tennessee, May 30, 1863, “James D. Morgan, Brig[adier] Gen[era]l Commanding Post,” a partly printed “Certificate to be Given to Discharged Volunteers to Enable them to draw their Pay” for Merrill Ransey (possibly Ramsey), a private in the 101^st Indiana Volunteer Infantry.  Further described, “Disease contracted prior to enlistment,” Private Ransey died in Nashville on June 8, 1863, just one week later.  

Lightly and evenly toned, with scattered staining; somewhat heavier wear at two horizontal folds.

Civil War-Date Document Signed

Document Signed, 7 ¾” x 9 ½”, Chattanooga, Tennessee, December 24, 1863, “James D. Morgan, Brig[adier] Gen[era]l Com[man]d[ing],” a partly printed requisition for corn, in the amount of $35.00.

Lightly and evenly toned, with scattered staining, two horizontal folds, and a few small tears at the edges.

Civil War-Date Autograph Document Signed – Rations for Grant’s teamsters before the Battle of the Wilderness

Autograph Document Signed, 6 ¾” x 11”, partly printed, Culpeper, Virginia, May 2, 1864, “By command of Lieu[tenan]t Gen[era]l Grant, E.S. Parker, Ass[istan]t Adj[tan]t Gen[era]l.”  Just three days before the Overland Campaign commenced at the Battle of the Wilderness, Parker, as General Grant’s adjutant, approves rations for thirteen men employed as teamsters in the Quartermasters Department of Grant’s Headquarters.  With the exception of the signature of Captain Henry Warner Janes, formerly of the 55^th Illinois Infantry, at lower right, remaining manuscript portions of the document are also in Parker’s hand.

Overall condition is very good, with heavier toning and minor staining at three vertical folds.

Civil War-Date Autograph Letter Signed – from the Department of West Virginia

Autograph Letter Signed, 5 ½” x 7 ½”, responding to an autograph request from a noted Civil War-era collector.

“Head Q[uarte]rs 2^nd Cav[alry] Div[ision] D[epartment] [of] W[est] V[irginia].  Front Royal, V[irgini]a, Nov[ember] 3^rd 1864.  Mr. C.L. Pascal, Philadelphia, P[ennsylvani]a.  Sir, Your request bearing date Oct[ober] 22^nd reached me this morning.  Your request is hereby granted.  I am dear Sir, Yours Respectfully, W.H. Powell, B[rigadier] G[eneral.”

Lightly and evenly toned; affixed to old heavier backing.

PRICE, STERLING (1809-67)  Confederate Major General; Governor of Missouri – 1853-57; U.S. Representative – Missouri – 1845-46; Veteran of the Mexican & Missouri Mormon Wars

MILLER, MADISON (1811-96) Union Brevet Brigadier General; Colonel of the 18^th Missouri Union Infantry; Late-war Brigadier General in the Missouri State Militia; President of the St. Louis & Iron Mountian Railroad Company

Document Signed, 9 ¼” x 11 ¼”, Jefferson City, Missouri, October 27, 1856, “Sterling Price,” as Missouri Governor, a partly printed $1000 bond of the Saint Louis & Iron Mountain Railroad.  Countersigned below by Missouri Secretary of State Benjamin Franklin Massey, along with Railroad President Madison Miller, future Brevet Brigadier General in the Union Army, on the reverse.

Significant trimming of the ornate original borders also affects the printed text on the reverse; some separation at the expected fold creases, with negligible loss of paper; all signatures are unaffected by cancellation holes and chipping at the edges.

Civil War-Date Letter Signed – preparing for the Battle of Iuka

Letter Signed, 8 ½” x 10 ½”, to “Hon[orable] Jno. J. Pettus, Governor of Mississippi,” informing Pettus of the disposition of troops sent to reinforce the militia shortly before the Battle of Iuka, Mississippi, September 19, 1862, resulting in Price’s defeat by Union General Wiliam S. Rosecrans.  Docketed on the reverse, presumably by Governor Pettus: “Gen[eral] Price writes in regard to his order to supply Militia & transmit copy of said order.”

“H[ea]d Q[uarte]rs Dist[rict] of the Tennessee
Tupelo [Mississippi], September 5, 1862

Governor,

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 1^st inst[ant]; delivered to me by Brig[adier] Gen[eral] Harris, & to say that I have issued the necessary orders for the supply of the Militia that have been reported to me, with subsistence, Camp & Garrison equipage, Arms & ammunition.

A copy of these orders are enclosed for your information.  Again thanking your Excellency for Your prompt attention to my request.

I am very respectfully,
Your ob[e]d[ien]t S[er]v[an]t,

Sterling Price

Maj[or] Gen[era]l
Com[mandin]g Dist[rict] of the Tennessee.”

Sound overall, with two horizontal folds; smearing of ink at the conclusion; text is unaffected by age spotting at the edges.

Signed Card, 3” x 4 ¾”, dated and inscribed, “James R. Randall, Augusta, G[eorgi]a.  March 21, 1891.  For Miss Louise Parkinson.”  

Lightly and evenly toned, with several minor stains; bumping at the upper left corner; old mounting remnants on the reverse.

Civil War-Date Document Signed

Document Signed, an 8” x 10” folded four-page letter sheet, Richmond, Virginia, March 24, 1862, Geo. W. Randolph,” to “O. Sibley, Jr., Esq[uire], 3[r]d Ala[bama] Reg[imen]t, Care G.T. Lathrop, Engineer Bureau.”  On an official, imprinted Confederate form, Randolph forwards an important printed Circular from previous War Secretary Judah P. Benjamin, included on the subsequent pages, detailing the provisions for the enlistment of volunteers.  A further notation beneath is initialed “G.W.B.”  The upper left corners of both leaves bear circular embossing with Virginia’s “SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS” motto.

Overall condition is very good, with light, even toning and two horizontal folds; minor smearing of ink at the conclusion of Randolph’s signature.

Civil War-Date Document Signed - General Grant banishes Prostitutes from the District of West Tennessee

Document Signed, 7 ¾” x 10”, a manuscript special order, signed by Rawlins as assistant adjutant general on behalf of Major General Ulysses S. Grant.  The order explicitly bans the unauthorized travel of women from northern rail points to the army’s encampments, along with their presence in camp.

“Head Quarters District of West Tennessee.
Corinth, Miss[issippi], July 20^th 1862.

Special Order
No. 139.

No females will be allowed to leave Columbus, Kentucky, or any intermediate railway Station by Railroad, to join any part of the Army of this District without a special written permit from Department Head Quarters or these Head Quarters.  All females from abroad remaining within Camp lines after the 31^st instant, not having such permits, shall be arrested and sent out of the District.  Division, Brigade, Port, Regimental, and Company Commanders will see to the faithful execution of this order throughout their respective Commands.

By Command of Maj[or] Gen[eral] U.S. Grant.
Jno. A. Rawlins,
Ass[istan]t Adj[uta]nt Gen[era]l.

As early-war offensives made inroads into Confederate territory, both east and west, the occupying Union Army was inevitably followed by another, consisting of profiteers and opportunists of all types, including prostitutes.  By this order, Grant intends to thwart the proliferation of prostitution among army personnel in the newly occupied regions of Tennessee, northern Mississippi, and Alabama, secured by the recent Union victory at the Battle of Shiloh.

Excellent, with light, even toning and two horizontal folds.

Signed Card, 2 ½” x 4”, March 22, 1869, Washington, D.C., “John A. Rawlins,” as U.S. Secretary of War.  The recipient’s name, date, just nine days after he assumed office as secretary or war, and Rawlins’s title are accomplished in an unidentified clerical hand.

Excellent overall, with old mounting remnants on the reverse.

Civil War-Date Autograph

Signature & Rank, “John F. Reynolds, Brig[adier] Gen[era]l Vol[unteer]s,” on  a 1” x 3” portion of a larger document, dated “1862” in an unidentified hand at lower left.

An excellent early-war example, with the rank Reynolds held from August 20, 1861 until promotion to major general, effective November 29, 1862.

Signature & Rank, “B.S. Roberts, B[reve]t Brig[adie]r Gen[era]l U.S.A.,” on a 1 ½” x 4 ¾” slip of paper.

Excellent.

Signed Card, 2” x 3 ½”, “J.M. Rusk,” with bevelled edges and rounded corners.

Excellent, with light, even toning; old mounting remnants on the reverse.