GRANT, ULYSSES S. (1822-85) Eighteenth U.S. President – 1869-77; Union Lieutenant General, during the American Civil War; Commanding General of the Army of the United States – 1864-69

Civil War-Date Autograph Letter Signed – Endorsed by Five Union Generals before the Battles of Iuka & Corinth in Confederate Mississippi

GRANT, ULYSSES S. (1822-85)  Eighteenth U.S. President – 1869-77; Union Lieutenant General, during the American Civil War; Commanding General of the Army of the United States – 1864-69

ROSECRANS, WILLIAM STARKE (1819-98)  Union Major General; U.S. Representative – California – 1881-85

TOWNSEND, EDWARD DAVIS (1817-93)  Union Brigadier General; Adjutant General of the U.S. Army – 1869-80; Veteran of the Second Seminole War

HALLECK, HENRY WAGER (1815-72)  Union Major General; Commander in Chief of the U.S. Army – 1862-64

HAMILTON, CHARLES SMITH (1822-91)  Union Major General; Veteran of the Mexican & Comanche Wars

WATSON, PETER H. (?-?)  Assistant Secretary of War, 1862 – Appointed by President Lincoln

Document Signed, 7 ¾” x 9 ¾”, endorsements on the reverse of a handwritten letter from Brigadier General Charles Smith Hamilton, requesting leave for twenty-five days.  Army General-in-Chief Henry W. Halleck concludes by denying the request.  The Battle of Iuka was fought on September 19, 1862, followed by the Battle of Corinth on October 3-4, both being regarded as Union victories.

 “July 16, [18]62 C.S. Hamilton, Brig[adier] Gen[eral].  Applies for leave of absence.”

“Head Quarters, Dep[artmen]t of W[est] T[ennessee].  Corinth, July 19^th 1862.  Approved and respectfully forwarded to Gen[eral] H[ea]d Q[uarte]rs.  U.S. Grant, Maj[or] Gen[eral].”

“Respectfully submitted to the Secretary of War. E.D. Townsend, Ass[istan]t Adj[utan]t Gen[era]l.”

“Referred to the General in Chief.  By order of the Secretary of War.  P.H. Watson, Ass[istant] Sec[retary] of War.  Aug[ust] 20/[18]62.”

“Respectfully forwarded W.S. Rosecrans, Brig[adier] Gen[era]l U.S.A Com[man]d[in]g.”

“Not approved.  Aug[ust] 22^nd 1862.  H.W. Halleck, Gen[era]l in Ch[ie]f.”

General Hamilton’s letter, in full, directed to “Brig[adier] Gen[eral] L[orenzo] Thomas, Adj[utan]t Gen[eral] U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.”

Camp near Corinth Miss[issippi]
July 16 – [18]62

Sir

I respectfully ask for leave of absence from my command for twenty five days.

An absence of over one year from my business, together with some recent complications in my private & personal affairs, renders it of vital importance to myself and family that I should give them my personal attention.  Very respectfully, Your Ob[edien]t S[er]v[an]t, C.S. Hamilton, Brig[adier] Gen[eral] Vol[unteer]s.”

Tipped to slightly larger backing; lightly and evenly toned, with the expected folds and minor staining.