From Kansas Territory shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War, Jeb Stuart and two other future generals - Union & Confederate - urge leniency for a deserter.

Autograph Letter Signed, 1 ¼ pages, front and reverse of an 8” x 10” sheet.  Addressing the “…Ass[istan]t Adj[utan]t Gen[era]l U.S.A.  H[ea]d Q[uarte]rs Dep[artmen]t of the West, St. Louis, Mo.,” Stuart urges clemency in the case of an accused deserter.  Interestingly further mentioned are the concurring endorsement of Lieutenant James Deshler, later a Confederate Brigadier General, killed in action at the battle of Chickamauga, Georgia, September 20, 1863, and suspension of a portion of the accused’s sentence by future Union Major General Edward R.S. Canby.

Fort Wise, K[ansas] T[erritory]Nov[embe]r 8^th 1860

Sir:

I have the honor to apply for the remission of so much of P[ri]v[a]t[e] Jno. Harrington’s (Co[mpany] H 10^th Inf[antr]y) sentence as relates to confinement and stoppage of pay the remission to take effect the 20^th of Oct[obe]r – the date of the arrival of his company at this post.

P[ri]v[a]t[e] H is now undergoing sentence of a Gen[eral] C[our]t Martial at Camp Floyd U.S. (see G[eneral] O[rder] No. 8 H[ea]d Q[uarte]rs Dep[artmen]t of U.S. dated Apr[il] 20^th 1859).  His conduct during the march from Utah to Fort Garland N[ew] M[exico] was so exemplary that the com[man]d[in]g officer (Col[onel] [Edward R.S.] Canby) suspended so much of his sentence as related to confinement until further orders.  His conduct since arriving at this post has been particularly good and I am the more convinced of this being a case deserving the clemency of the Dep[artmen]t Commander by the high character given him by his late comp[an]y Commander (Lieut[enant] Deshler) who seconds very warmly this petition for remission of sentence.

[over]

The sentence awarded is herewith enclosed.

Very Respectfully
Your Ob[edien]t s[er]v[an]t
J.E.B Stuart
1^st L[ieutenan]t 1^st Cav[alry]
Com[man]d[in]g Co[mpany] H 10^th Inf[antr]y

Excellent overall, with light toning and the expected horizontal folds.