COLONEL WILLIAM A. HOWARD - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 03/14 - HFSID 174713

COLONEL WILLIAM A. HOWARD (CIVIL WAR)
In March of 1861, a month before the Declaration of the Civil War, the Colonel awaits official orders from the Union Army.
Autograph Letter signed: "W.A. Howard", 1 page, 5x8. National House, New York, 1861 March 14, one month before the Civil War. To "My Dear Fessenden" [U.S. Senator] William Pitt Fessenden, Washington, D.C., In full: "I saw Wm. Mills who does not appear certain that Wm. B will remain. It was desirous to think if a telegram would reach me at Lag Harbor where I told him it should return today. Harrington will forward me some documents regarding the rest of Service & will write me when the Sanctuary will be prepared to act on my suggestion. Consequently there determined to leave this evening as I may not have the pleasure of seeing you & take this method of thanking your for your kindness. I can't bear to be asked 'What I want' by a party of Slavers. Ever dear Fessenden. Yours affectionately. " William A. HOWARD (1807-1871) was a veteran Coast Guard officer who commanded a detachment of marine artillery during battles on the Carolina coast during the Civil War. At the beginning of the war, he was commissioned as a Colonel of the 1st New York Heavy Artillery in the defenses around Portsmouth & Norfolk. Earlier in his career, when he commanded the revenue cutter Jackson, he was said to look so resplendent in his Coast Guard uniform that naval officers pressured Navy Secretary Levi Woodbury to remove epaulettes from Coast Guard uniforms. In the years before the Civil War, he was in private business as a shipbuilder. William Pitt FESSENDEN (1806-1869) had resigned a seat in the U.S. Senate to assume, at the personal behest of President Lincoln, the Cabinet post of Treasury Secretary after the resignation of Secretary Chase. Fessenden, who as Chairman the important Senate Finance Committee (1861-1864) had played an important role in raising revenues for the Union cause, but he served at Treasury for only eight months (July 5, 1864 - March 3, 1865). Thereafter he returned to the Senate, becoming chairman of the Joint Committee on Reconstruction. Lightly creased. File holes at left edge. Toned. Lightly smudged near signature, but legible. Ink note (unknown hand) on verso of last page. Otherwise, fine condition.