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Military
143. Marquis de Lafayette Document Signed. DS in French, signed “Lafayette,” one page, 7.5 x 10, February 5, 1790. A printed report, in part (translated): “I cannot but rejoice with you about the King’s decision to consolidate our Liberty... Only by assuring obedience to the Decrees of the Assembly, the upholding of the laws and the essential collection of Taxes of the State will we reaffirm our beautiful Constitution of which the King desires to be the most zealous defender.” Signed neatly at the conclusion by the Marquis de Lafayette. In very good to fine condition, with toning and foxing to the edges. Starting Bid $200
144. Henry ‘Light Horse’ Lee Autographed Letter Signed. ALS signed “Henry Lee,” one page both sides, 8.25 x 12.75, August 15, 1807. Letter to Colonel John Tayloe III, a wealthy landowner and member of the Virginia Governor’s Council. In part: “Lt. Ball presented me with the dispatch entrusted to him this morning soon after I had a conference with the Governor & have the pleasure to transmit herewith commissions for yourself & officers. I have placed y’r troops under the law of Congress requiring 30,000 volunteers for one year. It is very probable that the troops under y’r command will be first from the State in that line. You ought to procure a beugle horn & beugler instead of a French horn...Whether I shall be employed in the war is unknown to me. I anxiously hope that the rupture may be closed by a mutual & just explanation of all difficulties. If however a resort to arms be unavoidable & myself called to the field I shall be happy in manifesting my respect to y’r principles & Zeal.” In very good to fine condition, with a tear to the top edge, an old mounting strip along the left edge, and a block of toning to the first page. Starting Bid $200
145. Robert Anderson Signed Photograph. Union general (1805-1871) in command of Fort Sumter who refused a formal demand for his surrender, leading to the bombardment of the fort and start of the Civil War. Uncommon and highly desirable 2.25 x 4 carte-de-visite photo of Anderson in profile, neatly signed on the image in ink, “Robert Anderson.” The mount bears an 1863 copyright notice and is marked on the back: “Photographed by Wenderoth & Taylor…Published by McAllister & Bro.,” both firms in Philadelphia. In fine condition. Starting Bid $200
146. Sumner Carruth Signed Photograph.
Officer in the volunteer army of the United States during the American Civil War (1834–1892) who commanded the 35th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry and eventually rose to the command of two different brigades in the IX Corps. Scarce 2.5 x 4 carte-de-visite portrait of Sumner Carruth, signed on the reverse in ink, “Yours truly, Sumner Carruth, Bvt. Brig. Genl. U.S.N., Col. 35th Mass. Vols.” In fine condition. Starting Bid $200 147. John W. Geary Signed Photograph. Union general (1819-1873) who was wounded a total of 10 times during his career, and was the first mayor of San Francisco. Original 2.25 x 4 carte-de-visite portrait of John W. Geary in uniform, signed neatly in black ink, “Jno. W. Geary.” In fine condition.
Starting Bid $200
“I took a fond look of the blue sky above me, feeling it might be my last on Earth”—the remarkable diary of a Confederate soldier in 1861, with a riveting firsthand account of the First Battle of Bull Run
148. Civil War: Fetter Hoblitzell’s Confederate Diary of 1861. Exceptional Civil War diary of Fetter Schrier Hoblitzell, a private in the First Maryland Regiment of Infantry of the Confederate Army, who later served as the speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates and as a congressman in Maryland’s 3rd congressional district. The diary, 8 x 10.25, consists of approximately 52 pages of bold, neatly penned entries spanning the six harsh months between June 8, 1861 and December 9, 1861, beginning with Hoblitzell’s exciting steamer journey from Baltimore to Richmond, and concluding with his attending the execution of two volunteers of the “Tiger rifles,” an event he deemed as “one of the saddest incidents of the war.” The most terrific passage within Hoblitzell’s diary is a vivid 5-page description of his experience at the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21st, with Hoblitzell, as he is wont to do, juxtaposing the gruesome horror of the warring action with excellent, highly descriptive, if not routinely poetical prose that recalls the spirit of Stephen Crane. The front cover of the diary is marked in another hand, “War Diary, Commencing 8th June 1861, Experiences of a Maryland Rebel,” and the inside front cover bears the affixed opening page of Hoblitzell’s diary, which features two ownership signatures. In very good to fine condition, with heavy wear to the covers and separation to the spine; the interior pages are loose, but generally fine. We highly encourage interested bidders to read our online description. Starting Bid $300
149. Joseph Barr Kiddoo Signed Photograph. Union general (1837–1880) who was breveted for his assault on Petersburg where he was wounded, as well as for service at Fair Oaks. Original 2.25 x 4 carte-de-visite portrait of Joseph Barr Kiddo in his military uniform, signed on the reverse in black ink, “J. B. Kiddoo, Bvt Maj Gen Vols.” Published by Le Rue Lemer of Harrisburg. In very good to fine condition, with light scuffing to the image, and a crease to its upper right corner. Starting Bid $200
151. James B. McPherson Document
Signed. Civil War–dated partly-printed DS, signed “Jas. B. McPherson, Brig. Gen’l & Sup’t,” one page, 8 x 10, September 27, 1862. Document issued to Charles S. Shan for work on the “Mobile & Ohio RR,” paying him $84 for “Sixteen & 4/5 day Services as Yardmaster at Columbus at $5.00 per day.” Signed at the conclusion by McPherson and countersigned by Charles S. Shaw. In fine condition. Starting Bid $200
152. Robert H. Milroy Signed Photograph. Lawyer, judge, and a Union Army general in the American Civil War (1816–1890) who is perhaps best remembered for his defeat at the Second Battle of Winchester in 1863. Scarce 2.25 x 3.75 carte-de-visite portrait of Robert H. Milroy posing in his military uniform, signed in the lower border in ink, “R. H. Milroy, Maj. Gnl.” Published by the Bendann Brothers of Baltimore, Maryland. In fine condition. Starting Bid $200
153. Henry W. Slocum Signed Photograph. Union general (1827–1894) who fought at Gettysburg and accompanied Sherman on his March to the Sea. Scarce 2.25 x 3.75 carte-de-visite portrait of Henry W. Slocum in his military uniform, signed in ink, “Yours truly, H. W. Slocum.” Published by R. W. Addis of the McClees’ Gallery in Washington, D.C. In very good to fine condition, with scattered light staining to the image. Starting Bid $200
One of Stuart’s last battlefield communications— forwarding a court martial document three weeks before he was killed in action
154. J. E. B. Stuart. Civil War–dated autograph endorsement signed “J. E. B. Stuart, Major Gen’l,” on a 3 x 7.75 segment removed from a larger document, April 26, 1864. Just three weeks before his battlefield death, Stuart writes, in full: “Hd. Qrs. Cav. Corps A. N. V., April 26th 1864, Res. Forw’d recommending trial by Genl. Ct. Martial Hampton’s Division.” Stuart’s endorsement is penned below that of Roger Preston Chew, who endorsed the panel to forward “Charges & Specification against Private Charle Michlke.” Affixed to a larger scrapbook page beside a letter of provenance by Bvt. Lieut. Col. Earle A. Woodruff on September 18, 1882, stating that the document was “found by me at the battle of Trevilian Station Va. June 11, 1864 and has been in my possession since.” In very good condition, with toning and staining, not affecting Stuart’s endorsement.
Stuart penned this endorsement just before the start of the Overland Campaign, during which Ulysses S. Grant led an offensive against Lee’s forces in Virginia. The campaign lasted from May 4–June 24, 1864, and included the Battle of Yellow Tavern, fifteen days after the date of this document, where Stuart was mortally wounded. The legendary cavalryman died on May 12, 1864, at the age of 31. Starting Bid $300
155. Napoleon Document Signed. Manuscript DS in French, signed “Bonaparte,” one page, 9 x 14.5, circa 1796–1797. Official document issued by Napoleon Bonaparte as “General en Chef de L’Armée d’Italie,” inducting a soldier into the army. The white paper and red wax seals affixed at the bottom remain intact. In fine condition, with some small edge tears and areas of minor paper loss.
On April 2, 1796, Napoleon led his army forward into Italy. He was badly outnumbered—his 38,000 French soldiers faced 38,000 Austrians plus 25,000 Piedmontese allied soldiers. In two weeks, Napoleon crushed the Piedmont army with lightning attacks. He then pursued the Austrians who retreated to the east, bewildered by the 26-year-old general and his new way of waging war. Starting Bid $200
156. Robert Baden-Powell Signed Photograph. Vintage glossy 3.5 x 5.5 postcard photo of husband-and-wife Scout Movement founders Robert and Olave Baden-Powell, signed by the former in black ink, “Olave / Baden-Powell, BadenPowell of Gilwell.” In fine condition. Starting Bid $200
