The “Hero of Ft. Sumter” refused Confederate demands for surrender, precipitating the artillery assault which began the Civil War. 

Signature, with sentiment, “Your’s Respectfully, Robert Anderson,” on a 1 ¼” x 2 ¾” slip of lined paper. 

Lightly toned and affixed to heavier stock of the same dimension.

Buell was instrumental in the Federal victories at Ft. Donelson and Shiloh, where his arrival late in the first day saved Grant from the Confederate attack.  He was replaced by Rosecrans due to his hesitance in pursuing Confederate General Bragg after the October 1862 battle of Perryville. 

Signature, with rank, “D.C. Buell, Major General,” on a 1 ½” x 4” slip of paper.

Excellent, with light, even toning.

Known as “Beast Butler” for his harsh treatment of civilians in New Orleans, Butler had, ironically, nominated Jefferson Davis for the presidency on the 1860 Democratic ticket. 

Signature, as U.S. Congressman, “Benj. F. Butler, Mass[achusetts],” on a 2 ¾” x 5” album page.

Lightly and evenly toned.

As colonel of the 20^th Maine, Chamberlain gallantly defended Little Round Top, preventing a Confederate victory at Gettysburg. 

Signature, “J.L. Chamberlain,” as Maine governor, August 28, 1868, on a 5 ¼” x 7” portion of an official document.

Lightly toned, with minor staining well away from the signature.

Franking Signature, “J.A. Garfield, M[ember] C[ongress],” on a House of Representatives imprinted 3” x 4 ¾” envelope front; addressed in an unknown hand, to “John Butler, Esq[uire], Damascoville, Mahoning Co[unty], Ohio,” and bearing a Washington, D.C. postmark. 

General soiling and wear, with several edge chips and tears, one barely passing through the conclusion of the signature; mounting traces on the reverse.

Gibbon served with distinction in the Army of the Potomac and was twice wounded - while leading the “Iron Brigade” at Second Manassas and again at Gettysburg.  At Appomattox, Gibbon was one of the commissioners designated to receive the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia.  After the war he served as colonel of the 7^th U.S. Infantry and earned legendary fame as an Indian fighter, rescuing the survivors of Custer’s command at Little Big Horn.

Civil War-Date Endorsement Signed, with the rank Gibbon held from May 2, 1862 until June 7, 1864, “App[rove]d and respectfully forwarded, John Gibbon, Brig[adier] Gen[era]l Com[man]d[in]g Brig[ade],” on a 2” x 3 ¼” portion of a military letter.  Handwritten text on the reverse indicates the origin of the letter was Sharpsburg, Maryland, where the Battle of Antietam was fought on September 17, 1862.

Lightly toned, with brushing of ink to several letters.

An 1849 graduate of West Point, Gillmore served in the Carolinas and is most noted for the capture of Ft. Pulaski and Morris Island, South Carolina. 

Signature, with rank, “Official Business, Q.A. Gillmore, Maj[or] Gen[era]l” on a 1 ½” x 2 ½” slip of paper. 

Lightly toned, with superficial staining.

Civil War-Date Signature, “U.S. Grant, Maj[or] G[e]n[eral],” on a lightly toned 1” x 3 ¾” slip of paper; from the reverse of a military telegram and also dated by Grant, “Nov[ember] 1^st [18]63.”

Grierson led the cavalry raid which began in La Grange, Tennessee on April 17, 1863 and concluded in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on May 2.  It was a highly successful action designed to disrupt Confederate supply lines in the rear of Vicksburg.  After the war, Grierson was stationed in the Southwest. 

Civil War-Date Signature, with rank, “B.H. Grierson, Brig[adier] Gen[era]l,” on a ¾” x 2 ½” slip of paper, affixed to larger card stock. 

Lightly toned, with minor staining.

An 1839 West Point graduate, Halleck commanded the Department of the Mississippi early in the Civil War, later serving as general-in-chief and advisor to Lincoln. 

Signature, “H.W. Halleck,” on a lightly toned ½” x 3 ½” slip of paper.

During the American Civil War, Hampton served with distinction from First Manassas through the surrender of Joseph Johnston in North Carolina, becoming, along with Nathan Bedford Forrest and Richard Taylor, one of only three civilians to attain the rank of lieutenant general in the Confederate Army.

Autograph Letter Signed, two pages, on front and reverse of a 5” x 8” sheet, to Thomas Taylor, a captain in Hampton’s Legion during the Civil War.  As a first-term U.S. Senator from South Carolina, Hampton discusses agricultural matters relating to the former Confederate commissioner, Senator L.Q.C. Lamar, also referring Taylor to another old Confederate comrade, 1^st South Carolina Lieutenant Colonel Andrew P. Butler.

“Wash[ingto]n, June 9^th 1879.  My Dear Taylor, your letter reached me a day or two ago & I was glad to learn that you were all well.  The warm weather & the confinement here have made my leg trouble me & I shall try to get off very soon.  Senator Lamar has heard that by the cultivation of vetches the [?] grass can be exterminated & he wants some vetch seed.  Can you have some sent to him here?  Do consult Dr. Ravenel to learn if the grass can be eradicated by this plant & get from him the mode of cultivating it.  If you see Col. A.P. Butler tell him that I want him to let me have a trio of white game chickens for Lamar.  If he has any of pure blood he could ship them by express to Oxford, Miss[issippi].  Do see if you can get three chickens.  Write when you can.  With kind regards to Mrs. Taylor, I am Y[ou]rs truly, Wade Hampton.”

Accompanied by the transmittal envelope, addressed by Hampton, to “Capt. Thos. Taylor, Charleston, So[uth] Ca[rolina],” with Washington, DC and Charleston, South Carolina postal markings.

The letter is in excellent overall condition, with the expected horizontal folds.  The envelope bears general soiling and wear, along with several edge chips and tears.

An 1844 graduate of West Point, Hancock fought in the Mexican and Seminole Wars.  At the outbreak of the Civil War, he was appointed brigadier general of volunteers and served from the Peninsula and Maryland campaigns through Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and the Virginia battles in the spring of 1864.  He became involved in politics after the war, running for the presidency against Garfield in 1880.

Signed Card, 2” x 4”, “Winfd. S. Hancock.”

Lightly and evenly toned, with a few small stains; old mounting remnants on the reverse.

Signature, with sentiment, place, and date, “With best wishes, Sincerely, R.B. Hayes, Spiegel Grove, Fremont, O[hio], 10 M[ar]ch, 1884,” on a 4 ½” x 7” sheet.

Evenly toned, with light, scattered foxing and a horizontal fold at the center.

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.

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.

As staunch Unionists, Lyon and Frank Blair collaborated to secure Union property in St. Louis and Missouri from pro-southern forces.  Lyon seized the militia at Camp Jackson on May 10, 1861, an action for which he was appointed brigadier general.  He was killed-in-action three months later at the battle of Wilson’s Creek, becoming the first Union general to die in the war.

Signature, with pre-war rank also in Lyon’s hand, “N. Lyon, Capt[ain] 2^nd Inf[antr]y, Commanding…,” on a 1 ¼” x 4” slip of paper, removed from a larger document.

Accompanied by a steel engraving depicting Lyon’s death at Wilson’s Creek, both pieces are attractive and suitable for display.

McClellan graduated second in the West Point class of 1846, served in the Mexican War, and at the outbreak of the Civil War was appointed major general of volunteers.  In August 1861, after the Federal disaster at First Manassas, he assumed command of the Army of the Potomac.  From this point forward, McClellan’s organizational ability was offset by his hesitance in pursuing the enemy, causing Lincoln to permanently relieve him in November 1862 after the battle of Antietam.  He ran unsuccessfully against Lincoln as the Democratic presidential candidate in the election of 1864. 

Signature, with sentiment and date, “Very truly yours, Geo. B. McClellan, New York, Dec[ember] 7/[18]83,” on a 2 ¼” x 5” slip of paper.

Lightly and evenly toned, with staining at the center; old mounting traces on the reverse.

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.

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.

A native of Ireland, Meagher organized and led a Zouave company of the 69^th New York Militia at First Bull Run.  Promoted to brigadier early the following year, he organized the Irish Brigade, subsequently leading the unit in all the Army of the Potomac battles from the Peninsula Campaign through Chancellorsville, most notably in the charge on the Confederate position on Marye’s Heights at Fredericksburg.  After the war, Meagher served as secretary and governor of territorial Montana.

Signature, with place and date commemorating the evacuation of the British from New York City at the conclusion of the American Revolutionary War, “Thomas Francis Meagher, New York, Nov[ember] 28^th/[18]54, Evacuation Day,” on a 4 ¼” x 4 ¾” sheet. 

Excellent, with light, even toning.