Signature, “Benj[amin] Alvord,” a frank on a 1 ½” x 5 ¾” portion of an imprinted “Paymaster General’s Office” envelope; marked “Personal” by Alvord, with a Washington, D.C. postmark at mid left.

Lightly and evenly toned, with minor staining.

Civil War-Date Autograph Letter Signed – seeking a pass “to reclaim the remains of a dead Soldier.”

Autograph Letter Signed, on beautifully imprinted 6” x 7 ½” official stationery as Massachusetts governor.  During the second year of war, Andrew seeks the assistance of Franklin E. Howe, an officer in the 36^th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, in procuring a pass for a colleague in the regiment, to reclaim the remains of an unnamed dead soldier.  Modern records indicate that Howe died of disease on May 5, 1864 in Westminster, Massachusetts.

“Boston, April 29, 1862, L[ieutenan]t Col[onel] Howe.  My d[ea]r Col[onel], If you can help Mr. A.S. Tuttle to get a passage to Roanoke Island to reclaim the remains of a dead Soldier you will confer a favor.  I am unaware about the regulations nom a sick passenger to N[orth] C[arolina] not in military service.  Your serv[ant], John A. Andrew.”

Accompanied by the imprinted transmittal envelope, addressed to Howe.  The letter is excellent overall, with light, even toning and two horizontal folds; the transmittal envelope bears heavier staining, with irregular tearing at the edges from opening.

Civil War-Date Autograph Letter Signed

Early in the American Civil War, Ashby’s 7^th Virginia Cavalry functioned primarily on scout and outpost duty along the Potomac.  In the spring of 1862, Colonel Ashby served with distinction in the Shenandoah Valley campaign as head of Stonewall Jackson’s cavalry.  Only two weeks after his promotion to brigadier general, Ashby was killed-in-action.

Autograph Letter Signed, 5 ¾” x 7”, an important, confidential early-war strategic communication, directing the destruction of a dam on the Potomac, between Martinsburg, Virginia and Williamsport, Maryland.

“Camp Jefferson, Sept[ember] 24, [18]61.  Col[onel] Riley.  Dear Sir,  I shall need your cooperation in a few days to destroy the Dam No. 4 – by throwing such force as you can safely send out from Martinsburg towards the Dam to be between that point and the crossing opposite Williamsport, but near enough to be supported by the whole body with me if you should be threatened.  When I am prepared for the work I will inform you – Do not let this be known as secrecy is important.  Respectfully, Turner Ashby, L[ieutenan]t Col[onel] Com[mandin]g.”

Extremely rare, as no other such examples have been offered for sale in the recent past.

Lightly and evenly toned, with a few stains, and there are inconsequential pinholes and minor breaks at the intersections of several folds.

Signed Card, 1 ½” x 3”, “C.C. Augur, Maj[or] Gen[era]l U[nited] S[tates] V[olunteers].”

Evenly toned, with minor chipping at the lower edge.

Early War-Date Franked Patriotic Envelope

Franked Patriotic Envelope 3” x 5 ½”, “Free, E.D. Baker, U.S. Senate,” with a May 27, 1861, New York postmark.  Addressed in another hand to “P. Willard George, Esq[uire], No. 257 North 16^th St[reet], Philadelphia, P[ennsylvani]a.”

Expected toning, soiling, and wear, with several chips and small tears at the edges.

Veteran of the Mexican War; U.S. Congressman – Illinois – 1845-47 & 1849-51; U.S. Senator – Oregon – 1860-61; Close friend of Abraham Lincoln

Civil War-Date Autograph Letter Signed

Autograph Letter Signed, 7” x 9”, on “Head-Quarters King’s Division” imprinted stationery, directing the encampment of his corps, shortly after the conclusion of the Shenandoah Valley campaign.

“Warrenton [Virginia], 25 – 6 [June, 1862].  P.M.  Major Perkins, A[ide] D[e] C[amp], Etc.  Select a good position and camp our Corps where they are.  I return in an ambulance.  Truly Yours, N.P. Banks, M[ajor] G[eneral] C[ommanding].”

Lightly and evenly toned, with a few light stains; minor bleeding of ink on several letters; two horizontal folds.

Civil War-Date Document Signed – an imprinted 142^nd New York Infantry Pass

Document Signed, 3 ¾” x 5”, West Point, Virginia, May 4, 1864, “A.M. Barney, L[ieutenan]t Col[onel] Commanding Regiment,” a desirable, partly printed pass; dated one day before the fighting began at the Battle of the Wilderness and countersigned by 142^nd New York Lieutenant Joseph Hastings Hays, who was wounded at Drewry’s Bluff, Virginia the following month.

Lightly toned, with the expected folds; general wear and staining throughout.

Signed Card, 2 ¼” x 4”, as Tennessee Governor, “Executive Office, Nashville, Tenn[essee], Wm. B. Bate.”

Excellent.

Signature, probably war date, with the rank Bates held from enlistment until October 3, 1862, “Wm. B. Bate, Col[onel] 2^nd Tenn[essee] Inf[antry],” on a 1 ¼” x 3 ½” slip of paper.

Lightly and evenly toned, with old mounting remnants on the reverse.

Signed Card, 1 ¾” x 3 ¾”, bevel-edged, “John Beatty.”

Excellent.

Signed Card, 2 ½” x 3 ½”, “G.T. Beauregard, 1891.”  

Exceptional.

Franking Signature, “Frank P. Blair, Jr.” on a ½” x 3 ¾” portion of an envelope, a Washington, D.C. postmark intersecting the signature.  Affixed to slightly larger backing, with minor glue staining at the edges.

Civil War-Date Signed Envelope

Signed Envelope, 3” x 5 ¼”, “J.D. Blanding, Col[onel] 9^th Reg[imen]t S[outh] C[arolina] V[olunteers],” also addressed by Blanding, to “Wm. F.B. Haynesworth, Esq[ui]r[e]…Sumter, South Carolina.”  An indistinct postmark, undoubtedly Tudor Hall, Virginia, and Due “10” markings at upper right; with vertical pencil notations, in an unknown hand, “from Col[onel] 9^th Rec[eive]d Oct[ober] 29, 1861” along the left edge.

Somewhat lacking in contrast, with moderate toning throughout and the expected wear, soiling, and edge chips.

Signature & Rank, probably war date, “E.B. Brown, Brig[adier] Gen[eral] Vol[unteer]s,” on a 1” x 3 ¾” slip of lined paper; affixed to slightly larger backing.

Lightly and evenly toned.

Civil War-Date Autograph Letter Signed - from Leavenworth, Kansas

Autograph Letter Signed, 5 ¼” x 8 ¼”.  From Leavenworth, Kansas, the vicinity of his father’s actions at the Pottawatomie Massacre and the Battles of Osawatomie and Black Jack in 1856 “Bleeding Kansas,” Brown conveys details of his return home to his wife in Ohio.  Accompanied by the transmittal envelope, imprinted “R. Stevenson, Photographic ARTIST, 40 Delaware Street, Leavenworth, Kansas”; addressed by Brown, to “Mrs. Wealthy C. Brown, Jefferson, Ashtabula Co[unty], Ohio, Box 125,” with a three-cent U.S. postage stamp and a June 6, 1862, Leavenworth City, Kansas Territory postmark at the upper right corner.

“Leavenworth City Kansas, Thursday, June 5 1862.    

My Loved Wife,

I have this moment got yours of the 28^th.  All in a hurry this morning as a Boat for St. Louis has just come and is off in a few minutes.

It will take me about five days to Chicago including one Sunday – say two days there then, one perhaps at Cleveland when I will be home as fast as I can.  Every thing is waiting and I must say good bye. 

Your own, John.”

Lightly and evenly toned, with a few minor stains and smearing of ink to several characters; chipping at the upper right corner and at the edge of the lower of two horizontal folds detracts very little.  The envelope has the expected wear at the edge and the right edge has been torn somewhat irregularly in opening.

A staunch proponent of states’ rights, Governor Brown clashed repeatedly with Confederate President Jefferson Davis and became a major impediment to the prosecution of the American Civil War.

Document Signed, Atlanta, Georgia, February 3, 1879, “Joseph E. Brown,” a partly printed 2 ¾” x 7 ½” check with an imprinted revenue stamp, drawn on The Citizens Bank of Georgia for $220.84.

Excellent.  The signature and text are unaffected by a punch cancellation, with no loss of paper, at mid left.

Civil War-Date Document Signed, 7” x 9”, “S.B. Buckner, Maj[or] Gen[era]l Commanding,” a manuscript listing of rations, “Abstract of Provisions issued from the 1^st to the 31^st day of December 1863 to the troops of the Confederate States stationed in the field by Capt[ain] I. Shelby, Jr…”

Lightly and evenly toned, with two horizontal folds.

Civil War-Date Document Signed by a Killed-in-Action Union General

Document Signed, 7 ¾” x 12”, “Approved, Hiram Burnham, Col[onel] 6^th Maine Vol[unteer]s,” a manuscript “Abstract of articles expended in the public service at Camp near Bell[e] Plains, V[irgini]a…in the month ending on the 31^st December 1862.”  Countersigned three times, front and reverse, by Lieutenant Addison P. Buck.

Lightly and evenly toned, with a few superficial stains and three horizontal folds.

Civil War-Date Document Signed Twice by a Killed-in-Action Colonel, later promoted to the rank of Brigadier General

Document Signed, 8” x 10”, Camp Griffin, Virginia, February 28, 1862, “Hiram Burnham, Col[onel],” a partly printed requisition for personal wood fuel the month.  Signed twice, at the mid and lower right.

Lightly and evenly toned, with a few superficial stains and two horizontal folds.

Early Civil War-Date Pass

Autograph Document Signed, 3” x 5”, a rare handwritten pass from Burnside’s early-war encampment near Washington, D.C., named for Rhode Island Governor William Sprague.

“Camp Sprague.  Washington, June 6^th 1861.  Pass Serg[ean]t Crandall till eleven o’clock.  A.E. Burnside, Col[onel] Com[man]d[in]g.”

Pencil notations in an unknown hand on the reverse list several identified enlisted men of the 1^st Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry.  The 1^st Rhode Island Infantry under the command of Colonel Burnside was actively engaged at the Battle of First Bull Run, July 21, 1861 and returned to Providence, Rhode Island, where the unit was mustered out on August 2, 1861.  Colonel Burnside re-entered Union service soon afterward and was promoted to the rank of brigadier general, effective August 6, 1861.

Lightly toned, with somewhat heavier soiling and wear at vertical and horizontal fold lines; a few small tears and minor chips at the edges.