
 |
Civil War - Union
Products |
---|
|
CANBY, EDWARD R.S. (1817-73)# 7817
Union Major General
A veteran of the Mexican and Second Seminole Wars, Canby served in New Mexico in opposition to Confederate General Henry H. Sibley during the American Civil War. Subsequently transferred east, he took command of the Military Division of West Mississippi and was involved in the late-war actions at Mobile, Alabama. In 1873, he was killed by Modoc Indians in California.
Document Signed, an endorsement on the reverse of an imprinted 9 ¾” x 16 ¼” U.S. Army form, “Examined & approved, Ed. R.S. Canby, M[ajor] G[eneral] Com[mandin]g,” approving expenditures for the month of November 1867.
The document is in excellent overall condition, with the expected folds.
OUT OF STOCK
|
|
|
|
ELLSWORTH, EPHRAIM ELMER (1837-61)# 7024
Union Colonel – Raised the 11th New York Infantry – “Ellsworth’s Fire Zouaves”
A personal friend of President Lincoln, Ellsworth became an instant hero to the Union when he was shot by proprietor James T. Jackson while removing the Confederate flag from the Marshall House Tavern in Alexandria, Virginia on May 24, 1861. Jackson was, in turn, immediately shot and killed by Zouave Private Francis E. Brownell, who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for the action.
Signed Card, 2” x 3 ½”, with initials, "E.E.E.,” on the reverse of a Terpsichorean Club card of the U.S. Zouave Cadets, probably relating to a formal dance sponsored by the unit.
The card is accompanied by a printed forty-page booklet, 3 ½” x 5 ¼”, enumerating the terms of drill and many other details of the Zouaves’ history and of their “Proposed Tour of the United States.” Strictly drilled and held to the most rigorous standards of military and personal discipline, their gaudy uniforms fashioned after those of the French colonial troops in Algeria, the unit achieved national renown as an exhibition while touring the northeastern United States.
The text of the back cover, “Chicago, Ill., Sept, 20th 1859,” along with several pages of press notices dating from mid 1859 through May 1860, associate the booklet and card to Ellsworth’s time in Illinois, where he trained the Chicago National Guard Cadets, later known as the U.S. Zouave Cadets. Having studied in the law office of Abraham Lincoln during his time in Illinois, Ellsworth became a personal friend of the Lincoln family. He campaigned tirelessly for Lincoln in the election of 1860, and accompanied the new President to Washington, D.C. for the inauguration.
Both pieces bear general soiling and wear; having heavier staining on the covers, the booklet contains all its original pages, legible and unmarred.
OUT OF STOCK
|
|
|
|
FOOTE, ANDREW H. (1806-1863)# 6852
Union Rear Admiral
WELLES, GIDEON (1802-78) U.S. Secretary of the Navy - 1861-69
As commodore in the U.S. Navy, Foote provided naval support in the Federal operations against Forts Henry and Donelson and in the bombardment of Island #10. Promoted to rear admiral for those actions, he died shortly after being transferred to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron in 1863.
As the Country Prepares for War - Just a Month Before the Bombardment of Ft. Sumter - a Union Sailor is Detached to Await Orders
Endorsement Signed, “Forwarded by A.H. Foote…March 11/[18]61,” on the reverse of the attached leaf of a Letter Signed, 8” x 10”, by Navy Secretary Gideon Welles. In an action undoubtedly replicated throughout the military, emblematic of the nation’s preparation for the Civil War that would break out just a month later, Welles orders “3rd Ass[istan]t Engineer Oscar H. Lackey, U.S. Navy, New York,” detached from his prior assignment aboard the Crusader, to await further orders:
“Navy Department, 9 March 1861. Sir, You are hereby detached from the Crusader and you will regard yourself as Waiting Orders. I am, respectfully, Your Obed[ien]t Serv[an]t, Gideon Welles...”
The letter-sheet is lightly and evenly toned, with an old clip hole in the upper margin. The integral leaf signed by Foote bears heavier soiling and wear, and contains an extremely detailed Navy Department watermark.
OUT OF STOCK
|
|
|
|
HAYES, RUTHERFORD B. (1822-93)# 7654
Nineteenth U.S. President - 1877-81; Governor of Ohio – 1868-72 & 1876-77; Union Brigadier General - Ohio
Document Signed, 7 ¾” x 10”, as U.S. President, a partly printed “affix the seal” document.
“I hereby authorize and direct the Secretary of State to affix the Seal of the United States to a Warrant for the pardon of John B. Martin, dated this day and signed by me; and for so doing this shall be his warrant. R.B. Hayes. Washington, 9th Aug[u]st, 1877.”
In excellent condition overall, the document is lightly and evenly toned, with two horizontal folds.
|
|
|
|
HOLMES, OLIVER WENDELL, JR. (1841-1935)# 6786
U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice– 1902-32; Civil War Union Captain – 20th Massachusetts Infantry
Autograph Letter Signed, 5” x 6 ½”, to “Mrs. Carl C. Wheaton.” As U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice, Holmes cordially complies with an autograph request, signing in full at the conclusion.
“Beverly Farms, Massachusetts, September 5, 1930. My dear Mrs. Wheaton, Presence here will prevent my accepting your kind offer to show me your autograph book, but it gives me pleasure to comply with your slight request that I add to it and join so distinguished a company. Very Truly Yours, Oliver Wendell Holmes.”
The letter is lightly and evenly toned, with a few unobtrusive stains and a horizontal fold at the center.
OUT OF STOCK
|
|
|
|
HOOKER, JOSEPH (1814-79) Union Major General - Massachusetts# 8315
Hooker served in the East from the Seven Days through Chancellorsville, where he led the Army of the Potomac to defeat at the hands of Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee.
Signature, with rank, “Joseph Hooker, Maj[or] Gen[era]l,” on a 2 ¼” x 4” slip of lined paper.
Excellent, with light, even toning.
OUT OF STOCK
|
|
|
|
HUNTER, DAVID (1802-86) Union Major General# 8316
A political appointee, Hunter served with little note at First Manassas, Secessionville, and the Piedmont. He is most remembered for burning Virginia Military Institute in 1864 and presiding at the Lincoln assassination trial.
Signature, with rank, “D. Hunter, Maj[or] Gen[eral],” on a 2 ¼” x 5” portion of an album page.
Lightly and evenly toned.
OUT OF STOCK
|
|
|
|
HURLBUT, WILBERFORCE LOVEJOY (1841-64) Union Captain – Fifth Michigan Infantry; Wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg, July 2, 1863; Killed-in-Action at the Battle of the Wilderness, May 6, 1864# 8606
Son of abolitionist minister Thaddeus Beman Hurlbut; Named for British abolitionist William Wilberforce and Elijah P. Lovejoy, his father’s friend and business partner, murdered by a pro-slavery mob in Alton, Illinois on November 7, 1837
Original Steel Engraving, 7 ¾” x 10 ½” overall, with a printed facsimile signature beneath a 3 ¼” x 3 ¾” image of Hurlbut in military uniform, imprinted “Eng[raved] by H.B. Hall & Sons, 52 Fulton St., N.Y.” From a biographical work, published in 1876.
Pristine.
OUT OF STOCK
|
|
|
|
JONES, SAMUEL J. (1836-?) Union Surgeon on the USS Minnesota, the flagship of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, during the Battle between the Monitor & Merrimack; Notable physician in Chicago, Illinois after the American Civil War# 8908
Original Steel Engraving, 7 ¾” x 10 ½” overall, with a printed facsimile signature beneath a 3 ½” x 3 ½” image, imprinted “Eng[rave]d by H.B. Hall & Sons, 13 Barclay St., N.Y.” From a biographical work, published in 1876.
Lightly and evenly toned, with inconsequential staining and a few light creases, mostly near the edges.
|
|
|
|
LEE, SAMUEL P. (1812-97)# 6870
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 (2nd Rate), Key West, Fl[orid]a, February 13th 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 24th 1871 informs me that as it intends to discontinue its contract with Mrs. Johanna Gordon, from and after the 24th 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.
OUT OF STOCK
|
|
|
|
MARSTON, GILMAN (1811-90)# 6835
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 2nd 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.
“In the Field near Drewry’s Bluff, May 19, [18]64.
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 16th 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.”
The sheets are lightly and evenly toned, with the usual horizontal folds, and there is light water staining throughout.
OUT OF STOCK
|
|
|
|
McDOWELL, IRVIN (1818-85) Union Major General - Ohio # 8322
A West Point graduate and Mexican War veteran, McDowell led the Federal Army in its disastrous defeat at First Manassas, the first major land battle of the Civil War. He led a corps under John Pope at Second Manassas the following year, with a similar outcome. Subsequently transferred, McDowell commanded the Department of the Pacific and several other posts both during and after the war.
Signed Card, 1 ¾” x 3”, with rank, “Irvin McDowell, Maj[or] Gen[era]l.”
Lightly and evenly toned, with old mounting remnants on the reverse.
OUT OF STOCK
|
|
|
|
McKINLEY WILLIAM (1843-1901) Twenty-Fifth U.S. President - 1897-1901; Governor of Ohio – 1892-96; U.S. Congressman – Ohio – 1877-91 # 8323
Signature, “W. McKinley, Jr.,” as return addressee in the upper left corner of an envelope, also addressed by McKinley, to “J.N. Taylor, Esq[uire] of Knowles, Taylor & K…, East Liverpool, Ohio.”
Evenly toned, with general soiling and wear; some smearing of ink in the postal markings; minor bleeding of ink at the conclusion of McKinley’s signature and portions of the address.
OUT OF STOCK
|
|
|
|
MEDILL, JOSEPH (1823-99)# 7064
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 “S.Y. Prince” for $1.48 and drawn on the Chicago Police Fund.
There are a few pinholes along the left edge, which has been trimmed slightly, and there is a small area of paper loss in the lower left corner. The signature is unaffected by a punch cancellation at the center.
OUT OF STOCK
|
|
|
|
MERRITT, WESLEY (1834-1910) Union Major General; Saw action from Chancellorsville through Appomattox in the Army of the Potomac Cavalry during the American Civil War# 8326
Served in the Indian Wars, the Spanish-American War, and the Philippine-American War; Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point – 1882-87; First American Military Governor of the Philippines - 1898
Signed Card, 3 ½” x 6 ¼”, “Chicago, Illinois, December twenty ninth. Wesley Merritt, Major General, U.S. Army,” with several notations and the date, “1898,” in an unidentified hand.
Evenly toned, with diagonally clipped corners and several surface abrasions, both front and reverse; although entirely acceptable, portions are somewhat lighter.
OUT OF STOCK
|
|
|
|
PLEASONTON, ALFRED (1824-97) Union Major General – Washington, D.C.# 8327
A cavalry officer who fought in the East until Grant became general-in-chief in early 1864, Pleasonton’s most memorable action was at Brandy Station, Virginia, the largest cavalry battle of the war.
Civil War-Date Signature, circa 1861, with rank in another hand, “A. Pleasonton, Capt[ain] 2nd Cavalry, Com[man]d[in]g Co[mpany] ‘H’,” on a 1” x 3 ½” slip of paper, removed from a larger letter or document.
Lightly toned, with minor staining, and there are old mounting remnants on the reverse.
OUT OF STOCK
|
|
|
|
PORTER, WILLIAM D. (1809-64)# 5854
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.
OUT OF STOCK
|
|
|
|
PRENTISS, BENJAMIN M. (1819-1901) Union Major General – Illinois; Most remembered for his gallant defense of the Hornet's Nest at Shiloh # 8329
Civil War-Date Signature, with rank, “B.M. Prentiss, Brig[adier] Gen[era]l U[nited] S[tates] V[olunteers],” on a 2 ¾” x 5” slip of paper.
Excellent, with light, even toning.
OUT OF STOCK
|
|
|
|
RICE, JAMES C. (1829-64)# 6610
Union Brigadier General - New York; Mortally Wounded at the Battle of Spotsylvania
After early-war service with the 39th New York, Rice led the 44th 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 2nd Brig. 1st Div. 1st Corps, November 20th 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.
OUT OF STOCK
|
|
|
|
ROSECRANS, WILLIAM S. (1819-98)# 6645
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.
OUT OF STOCK
|
|
|
|
|