Civil War-Date Autograph Document Signed – Rations for Grant’s teamsters before the Battle of the Wilderness

Autograph Document Signed, 6 ¾” x 11”, partly printed, Culpeper, Virginia, May 2, 1864, “By command of Lieu[tenan]t Gen[era]l Grant, E.S. Parker, Ass[istan]t Adj[tan]t Gen[era]l.”  Just three days before the Overland Campaign commenced at the Battle of the Wilderness, Parker, as General Grant’s adjutant, approves rations for thirteen men employed as teamsters in the Quartermasters Department of Grant’s Headquarters.  With the exception of the signature of Captain Henry Warner Janes, formerly of the 55^th Illinois Infantry, at lower right, remaining manuscript portions of the document are also in Parker’s hand.

Overall condition is very good, with heavier toning and minor staining at three vertical folds.

Signed First Day Cover, 3 ¾” x 6 ½”, “Joe McCarthy,” with an October 8, 1956, Appleton, Wisconsin postmark and an ironic “PRAY FOR PEACE” cancellation.  Co-signed beneath by local Postmaster Francis H. Sumnicht and two other notables.

Excellent, with light, even toning.

Signed First Day Cover, 3 ¾” x 6 ½”, “Joe McCarthy,” with an October 8, 1956, Appleton, Wisconsin postmark and an ironic “PRAY FOR PEACE” cancellation.  Co-signed beneath by local Postmaster Francis H. Sumnicht and two other notables.

Excellent, with light, even toning.

A Streetcar Named Desire

Autograph Document Signed, a partly printed 2 ¾” x 6” check, “Tennessee Williams, 632 ½ St. Peter.”  From his New Orleans residence, early in the year when the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “A Streetcar Named Desire,” undoubtedly Williams’ most notable work, was first performed to critical acclaim. Drawn on the Whitney National Bank of New Orleans, also dated and engrossed in his hand: “Jan[uary] 4 1947,” payable to Waguesback [sic] -Pratt Co.” for “Seventy five no/100” Dollars.  

Reverse bears the recipient’s stamped endorsement. The signature is unaffected by hole-punch cancellation, as well as several minor creases.

* With Generals George H Thomas, Andrew J Mackay

Civil War-Date Document Signed

THOMAS, GEORGE HENRY (1816-70)  Union Major General during the American Civil War, known as the “Rock of Chickamauga”; Veteran of the Mexican War

MACKAY, ANDREW JACKSON (1827-1901)  Union Brevet Brigadier General; Chief Quartermaster of the Army of the Cumberland

Document Signed, 7 ¾” x 10”, partly printed, April 30, 1863, “Geo[rge] H. Thomas, Maj[or] Gen[era]l U[nited] S[tates] V[olunteers], a requisition for “One Wall Tent Complete.”  Countersigned by Chief Quartermaster General Andrew J. Mackay, later brevetted brigadier general for Civil War service, and Captain John Payne Willard, formerly of early-war service in the 31^st Wisconsin Infantry.

Lightly and evenly toned, with a few scattered stains and the expected horizontal folds.

Civil War-Date Autograph Letter Signed

Autograph Letter Signed, 8” x 10”, as U.S. Representative from Missouri, detailing the specifics of a land purchase.

“Wash[ington]

Mrs. Carroll,

D[ea]r Madam,

Mr. Bonifant sold me a small portion of the land he bought of you to straighten the line as he desired at $100 per acre before I consented to buy the part I bought.  I do not know how much but Mrs. [?] does – these few acres being paid for by Bonifant at $100 per acre come to me at that price from him as by agreement, but is to be included in your deed to me.  The three hundred dollars withheld, is to cover the difference in price between the few acres bought of Bonifant & the main body I bought of you.  The $300 will cover that am[oun]t as well as the Supposed deficit in am[oun]t of land surveyed & off[ered] to me.

Y[ours] ob[edientl]y,
F.P. Blair

19 February [18]64].

Lightly and evenly toned, with a few minor stains, the expected folds, and a small area of paper loss in the upper left corner.

Civil War-Date Letter Signed

Letter Signed, on imprinted 8” x 9 ¾” official stationery, directing Captain James S. Abeel of the need to renew his bond for service in the Ordnance Department.

“Ordnance Office

War Department, Washington.  Nov[ember] 16, 1864

Capt[ain] J.S. AbeelMil[itary] Stporekeeper, U.S. Arsenal
Rome, N[ew] Y[ork]

Sir:

Your attention is called to Paragraph 989 General Regulations of the Army which requires that Official Bonds shall be renewed every four years.

Your present Bond bears date 26 March 1860 and should be replaced as soon as practicable.

Respectfully
Your Ob[edien]t Serv[an]t
A.B. Dyer
Brig[adier] Gen[eral] Ch[ie]f [of] Ord[nance]”

Lightly and evenly toned, with the expected folds and minor staining; several pencil notations; old mounting remnants in the corners of the reverse.

Civil War-Date Letter Signed – a resident seeks a pass to visit family in the Confederate town just two weeks before the Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia – December 11-15, 1862

Letter Signed, 7 ¾” x 9 ¾”, as Civil War Interior Secretary in the cabinet of Abraham Lincoln.  Addressing army Commander-in-Chief Henry Wager Halleck, Smith seeks a pass for “a loyal man” of the town shortly before the pivotal Civil War battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia.

“Dep[artmen]t of the Interior
Wash[ington], Nov[ember] 24, 1862

Sir,

The Bearer Mr. C.B. Cole of Fredericksburg Vir[ginia] desires to visit his family who are residing there.  He is a loyal man of that State and you will gratify me very much if you will furnish him with the proper pass.

Very Respectfully,
Your obedient Servant,
Caleb B. Smith

Maj[or] Gen[era]l Halleck
Commander in Chief, & c.”

Excellent, with light, even toning and two horizontal folds.