BRIGADIER GENERAL JAMES BARNETT - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 05/09/1890 - HFSID 22287

BRIGADIER GENERAL JAMES BARNETT
Letter written as Chief Marshall of the Garfield Memorial Association
Autograph Letter signed: "James Barnett", 1p, 6x9¼. Cleveland, Ohio, 1890 May 9. On stationery of The Garfield Memorial Association, as Chief Marshall, to L.O. Winship. In full: "Can you give me the name and PO Address of the Ex National Commander GAR? I shall feel obliged for the information." Merchant, banker and Union Civil War officer James Barnett (1821-1911) raised and commanded the 1st Ohio Light Infantry at the Battle of Shiloh and siege of Corinth. He was promoted to Chief of Artillery and Chief of Ordnance of the Army of the Cumberland, taking part in the Battles of Stones River and Murfreesboro, and in the Chattanooga Campaign. Cited for gallantry and efficiency by General Rosecrans, he became aide-de-camp to General George Thomas, brevetted to brigadier general, in March 1965. Returning to Cleveland as a bank president and civic leader, serving for a time as police commissioner, he was active in charities, especially those affecting veterans, serving as Director of both the Soldiers and Sailors Orphans Home and the National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. In 1890, the principal Union veterans' association, the Grand Army of the Republic reached its largest membership, just over 490,000 members and in 1949, six surviving members permanently closed the GAR. The National Encampments were yearly meetings that had attendance of over 25,000 veterans in 1890, 1891 and 1892. Membership in, or at least endorsement by, the GAR, was extremely valuable to those seeking elective office. In pencil beneath signature in another hand: "Barnett/Chief of Artillery". Five-line typed biography of Barnett affixed in lower blank portion. Lightly creased. Vertical, rectangular shading covers ¾ of page. Mounting remnants on verso (no show through). File hole reinforcement remnants at upper and lower margins. Overall, fine condition.