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War-Date Autographs, Documents & Letters

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GIBBON, JOHN (1827-96) Union Major General – Pennsylvania

# gibbonjohn
 

GRIERSON, BENJAMIN H. (1826-1911) Union Major General – Illinois

# grierrsonbenjaminh
 

HOPKINS, STEPHEN (1707-85)

# 7664

Signer of the Declaration of Independence – Rhode Island; Delegate to the Continental Congress – Rhode Island – 1774-76; Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island – 1755-57, 1758-62, 1763-65 & 1767-68

French and Indian War-Date Pay Order

War-Date Document Signed, 4 ¼” x 6 ¼”, a manuscript pay order “To Thos. Richardson, Esq[uire], Gen[eral] Treasurer,”  The document is co-signed by Hopkins’ fellow committeemen, assigned the task of preparing for war with France, later known as The French and Indian War, 1754-63.


“Newport, [Rhode Island], May 12, 1755. Sir, Pay Mr. George Lanton Sixty nine pounds, six shillings & six pence (old Tenor) in full of his al[lotmen]t for the French mens boat & charge the same to the Colony. Step. Hopkins.
The document is lightly and evenly toned, with clean paper separation along the center horizontal fold. The text of the document is unaffected by minor paper loss at the corners.

OUT OF STOCK
 

JACKSON, THOMAS J. "STONEWALL” (1824-63) Confederate Lieutenant General – Virginia; Mortally wounded at the Battle of Chancellorsville

# 9157

Civil War-Date Signature & Rank, “T.J. Jackson, Maj[or] Gen[era]l P[rovisional] A[rmy] C[onfederate] S[tates],” on a 1 ¼” x 3” slip of paper.

Lightly toned, with show-through of old glue staining from the reverse.

Price: $5250.00
Quantity: 
 

LONGSTREET, JAMES (1821-1904)

# 7517

Confederate Lieutenant General – South Carolina

Longstreet saw action from First Manassas through Appomattox, becoming Lee’s senior lieutenant general in the Army of Northern Virginia. He held post-war positions in the Grant, McKinley, and Roosevelt administrations.

War-Date Endorsement Signed

Civil War-Date Endorsement Signed, on a 1 ¾” x 3 ¼” slip of paper, removed from a larger document.

Respectfully forwarded, J. Longstreet, L[ieutenan]t Gen[era]l.”

While post-war manuscripts by Longstreet are readily available, war-date examples are seldom encountered. This endorsement, distinctly signed by Longstreet with his right hand, can be dated to the war-time period before the Battle of the Wilderness, May 5 & 6, 1864, where a severe wound forced Longstreet to use his left hand for writing for many years afterward.

OUT OF STOCK
 

MARSHALL, ELISHA GAYLORD (1829-83) Union Brevet Major General; Union Colonel – 13th New York Infantry & 14th New York Heavy Artillery

# marshallelishagaylord
 

NIMITZ, CHESTER W. (1885-1966)

# 7155

U.S. Navy Admiral; Commander-in-Chief of the United States Pacific Fleet – 1941-45

During the Final Months of World War II, Nimitz Expresses Support for a Rehabilitation Center for Wounded Veterans on Staten Island – Modeled after FDR’s Facility at Warm Springs, Georgia

War-Date Typed Letter Signed, 8” x 10 ½”, on imprinted stationery as Commander of the United States Pacific Fleet during World War II, to “Irving Geist, 1372 Broadway, New York, New York.”

Writing from his Advance Headquarters on Guam during the final months of the war, Nimitz expresses support for “constructing swimming pools, similar to those at Warm Springs,” the facility founded by Franklin Roosevelt in Georgia to treat victims of polio, for the rehabilitation of wounded World War II veterans at the Halloran General Hospital on Staten Island. He further declines to submit a statement and a photograph for publication, due to the demands of the war. A well-known New York philanthropist, Geist had committed to the task of raising the estimated $150,000 to finance the project at Halloran General Hospital the previous year.


1 June 1945.

Dear Mr Geist:

This will acknowledge your letter of 3 May 1945, which has just reached my Advance Headquarters at Guam.  You may be certain that measures undertaken for the benefit of our returning wounded veterans have my most sympathetic approval. I congratulate you and the men associated with you on your project for constructing swimming pools, similar to those at Warm Springs, for the Halloran General Hospital and I hope and believe that they will prove beneficial to the men for whose use they are intended.

The increasing momentum of the Pacific war has made so many demands upon my time that I have been obliged to adopt a policy of not making statements for publication in connection with endeavors which are not of national scope, however worthwhile such endeavors may be. Therefore I must regretfully decline your request that my photograph and a statement from me be sent for publication in the Dedication Journal.

I deeply appreciate the patriotic motive which prompted you in making the request and offer you my good wishes for the success of your endeavor.

Sincerely yours,

C.W. Nimitz,

C.W. NIMITZ
Fleet Admiral, U.S. Navy.”


Originally planned in 1938 as a treatment center for children with developmental disabilities, Willowbrook State School was renamed Halloran General Hospital after the late Colonel Paul Stacey Halloran, and served as a treatment center for returning wounded veterans from 1942 through 1947.

The letter is lightly and evenly toned, with two horizontal folds, and there are two pinholes and a light paper clip indentation in the upper margin.

OUT OF STOCK
 

PICKENS, FRANCIS W. (1805-69)

# 6855

Confederate Governor of South Carolina – 1860-62; U.S. Congressman – South Carolina – 1834-43

Civil War-Date Autograph Letter Signed, 8” x 10”, on imprinted stationery as Confederate Governor of South Carolina. Shortly after the outbreak of war, Pickens instructs the commissary general in the payment and distribution of rations for troops in the new South Carolina regiments.

4 June 1861To Commissary Gen[era]l Walker. Sir, I rec[eive]d yours of this inst[ant]. Capt[ain] Elliot’s company appear to have rec[eive]d rations at 40 c[en]ts – and the service was for twenty four days – and the highest Army ration is 30 c[en]ts. The $488.10 is the highest one paid. This of course includes beef & vegetables, & the bill for $151.75 cannot be allowed. As to temporary supplies to Gen[era]l Garlington, Col[one]l Rion, and Col[one]l Blandings command, you might furnish for a day or so. Please see that the supplies left by Cash’s reg[imen]t at Florence are taken care of & held or brought to the city, & so of Burns & Jenkins & all the other reg[imen]ts. F.W. Pickens.”

There is light, even toning, along with two horizontal folds and smudging of ink to several letters of text.

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
 

POOR, ENOCH (1736-80) Brigadier General in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War

# poorenoch
 

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
 

PRESTON, JOHN S. (1809-81)

# 7533

Confederate Brigadier General - Virginia

A Virginia native and pre-war attorney, Preston served on the staff of Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard during the bombardment of Ft. Sumter and at the battle of First Manassas. He later served in command of conscript and prison camps, and as superintendant of the Confederate Bureau of Conscription in Richmond.

War-Date Signature

Civil War-Date Signature, with the rank Preston held from April 23, 1863 until June 10, 1864 in another hand, Jno. S. Preston, Col[onel] A[ssistant] A[djutant] Genl. Com[man]d[in]g,” on a 2” x 4 ½” slip of paper.

OUT OF STOCK
 

SCOTT, WINFIELD (1786-1866) Union Major General - Virginia; U.S. Presidential Candidate - Whig Party - 1852

# scottwinfield
 

SEDGWICK, JOHN (1813-64)

# 6919

Union Major General - Connecticut

A West Point graduate, veteran of the Seminole and Mexican Wars, Sedgwick served with the Army of the Potomac from the Peninsula through Spotsylvania, where he was killed by a Confederate sharpshooter.

War-Date Document Signed, 3 ¾” x 8”, a manuscript pass for Lieutenant Henry J. Strait of the hard-fought 40th New York Infantry, also know as the Mozart Regiment. This early-war pass can be dated to the period before Sedgwick’s promotion to major general on July 25, 1862.

“Permission is hereby given Lieut[enant] H.J.Strait to visit Washington & Return to-day. By order of E.J. Riley, Col[onel] Com[man]d[in]g 40th N[ew] Y[ork] V[olunteers].  per J.H.B. Jenkins, Adj[utan]t’s Clerk. Approved, John Sedgwick, Brig[adier] Gen[era]l Vol[unteer]s.”

There is light soiling and wear, paper separation at the center intersection of the usual folds, along with minor loss of paper in the upper margin.

OUT OF STOCK
 

SEDGWICK, JOHN (1813-64) Union Major General - Connecticut

# 8331

A West Point graduate and veteran of the Seminole and Mexican Wars, Sedgwick served with the Army of the Potomac from the Peninsula through Spotsylvania, where he was killed by a Confederate sharpshooter. 

War-Date Signature, with rank and command in another hand, “John Sedgwick, Major General, Commanding Sixth Corps,on a 1 ¼” x 3 ¾” slip of paper, removed from a larger letter.

Excellent, with light, even toning.

OUT OF STOCK
 

STANTON, EDWIN M. (1814-69)

# 7042

U.S. Secretary of War – 1862-68

President Lincoln Appoints Henry Larcom Abott a Brevet Brigadier General

War-Date Document Signed, 8” x 10,” as Secretary of War, Washington, December 2, 1864, “E.M. Stanton,” a partly printed War Department letter informing 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery Colonel Henry Larcom Abbott that he has been appointed to the rank of brevet brigadier general by President Lincoln, “…for gallant and distinguished services in the operations before Richmond and especially in the lines before Petersburg,” to rank from August 1, 1864.

A manuscript notation in the lower margin directs this letter through Army of the Potomac Commanding General George G. Meade.

Condition is very good, with light toning and the usual horizontal folds.

OUT OF STOCK
 

STEPHENS, ALEXANDER H. (1812-83)

# 6476

Confederate Vice President - Georgia

Despite his unionist stance as congressman from Georgia, Stephens followed his native state to the Confederacy, becoming a representative in the Provisional Congress, a position he retained even after assuming the Vice Presidency. After the war, he returned to the U.S. House of Representatives from 1873 through 1882. 

Civil War-Date Autograph Letter Signed, three pages on a folded 4” x 6 ¼” letter-sheet, as Confederate Vice President, recommending a young engineer, Assistant Master of the Confederate Armory at Richmond, Virginia, Amassa Ring, formerly in the employ of the armory at Harpers Ferry, to Georgia Governor Joseph E. Brown. 

“Richmond, Va., 29 March 1862, His Excellency Joseph E. Brown, Milledgeville, Ga. Dear Sir, Mr. Amassa W. Ring, a engineer who is now 1st Ass[istan]t Master of the Confederate States Armory in this city wishes to get employment in the manufacture of arms in our state. I consider him well qualified – superior quality to Mr. Jones who I understand is now in the Service of the State. Mr. Ring is quite a mechanical genius – sober, young [?] comprehensive and combining in business some of the rarest and best qualities of a artful & practical man I ever saw combined in any one character. He was in the U.S. Coast Survey up to the secession of Ga. He after that went to Harpers Ferry & from there to this city. I feel assured if you have any business for such a man a better or fitter one cannot be got in the Confederacy if in the Government. Yours truly, Alexander H. Stephens.”

Just two weeks earlier, Union General George B. McClellan had begun floating the enormous Federal Army of the Potomac down the Chesapeake to the tip of the York-James Peninsula. Anticipating the imminent campaign to take Richmond, along with the possible evacuation of the city and abandonment of its military stores and production facilities, Stephens predictably takes a position favorable to his native state by suggesting Ring to Georgia Governor Joseph E. Brown. Despite McClellan’s failure to take Richmond in the spring of 1862, much of the South’s war industry was soon shifted to less threatened areas, most notably to the Confederate States Armory at Macon, Georgia.

Lightly and evenly toned, with the usual folds; brushing, spotting and offsetting of ink throughout.

OUT OF STOCK
 

VAN BUREN, MARTIN (1782-1862)

# 7650

Eighth U.S. President - 1837-41; U.S. Vice President – 1833-37; U.S. Secretary of State – 1829-31; Governor of New York - 1829

Civil War-Date Autograph Letter Signed

War-Date Autograph Letter Signed, 5” x 8”, two pages, front and reverse of the first leaf of a folded letter-sheet. From his home in Kinderhook, New York, Van Buren sends details of an upcoming trip to an unnamed friend.


“Lindenwald, October 17th [18]61. Many thanks to you my dear Judge for your affectionate & obliging letter. I shall wait till after the election. I hope to be ready to leave home on the day after. I spend the night with you & I hope have the pleasure of your company to Clifton. I will drop you a line in advance. Present me most kindly to Mrs. Page, Mrs. Mumford & the young ladies, & believe me truly yours, M. Van Buren.” 
In excellent condition overall, the letter is lightly and evenly toned, with a few superficial stains and three horizontal folds.

Price: $895.00
Quantity: 
 

WELLES, GIDEON (1802-78)

# 7826

U.S. Secretary of the Navy - 1861-69, During the American Civil War

Civil War-Date Letter – Navy Secretary Welles devotes his attention to the Union Blockade

Letter Signed, 7 ¾” x 9 ¾”, with the closing and signature on the reverse, to “James T. Hale, Esq[uire], Washington, D.C.”  Responding to an inquiry from the Pennsylvania congressman, Welles conveys that the foreign fleet has been recalled, understandably preferring to devote all funds and resources available to the U.S. Navy to the Union blockade of the southern states, announced by President Lincoln on April 19, 1861.


“Navy Department, Sept[embe]r 21, 1861.  Sir: Your letter of the 20th inst[ant] has been received.  I have not time to revise the arrangement, at one time proposed with Mr. James McHenry, in regard to funds for our foreign squadrons, referred to by you.  It seems unnecessary, for the arrangement was never consummated by my predecessor, nor has it been recognized, at any time, by this Department.  In addition to this our squadrons have been recalled, rendering any change needless.  I am respectfully. Y[ou]r Obed[ien]t servant, Gideon Welles.”


The paper is lightly and evenly toned, with staining and a few pinholes and light creases in the margins, along with two horizontal folds.

OUT OF STOCK