LT. GENERAL JOHN M. SCHOFIELD - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 12/04/1885 - HFSID 30373

GENERAL JOHN SCHOFIELD
ALS to General Winfield Hancock regarding artillery training and deployment
Autograph Letter signed: "John Schofield", 2 pages (front and verso), 12x9 open flat, 6x9 folded. Docketed on integral leaf. Chicago, Illinois, 1885 December 4. Red pencil notation (unknown hand): "Rec'd Dec. 6 1885".To Major General [Winfield] Hancock, Governor's Island, New York. In full: "I have just reviewed your note of Nov. 30th enclosing copy of your correspondence in 1877, relative to instruction of the Artillery in torpedo service, and to concentration of light batteries at Carlisle. Your suggestions were excellent - and it is greatly to be regretted turned into effect. I trust that something very soon be commenced in this direction. Very truly yours". Civil War General John McAllister Schofield (1831-1906), who was a commander in Sherman's Atlanta campaign, served as Andrew Johnson's Secretary of War from 1868-1869.Schofield succeeded Edwin M. Stanton, who resigned the day Johnson was acquitted at his impeachment trial. Schofield, who would later serve as Superinendent of West Point (1876-1881), first visited the Hawaiian Islands in 1872, and he recommended that the U.S. acquire Pearl Harbor as a naval base (U.S. military forces began moving in after the 1898 annexation of Hawaii). In 1888, after the death of Philip Sheridan, Schofield became Commanding General of the U.S. Army, serving until 1895.Schofield Barracks, a U.S. Army post about 30 miles north of Honolulu, is named in his honor. Winfield Scott Hancock (1824-1886), a highly successful Union Corps commander during the Civil War and a hero of the Battle of Gettysburg (1863), was the Democratic Party's candidate for President in 1880, losing to James A. Garfield. He was Commanding General of the U.S. Army's Department of the East, headquartered on Governor's Island, from 1877 until his death. Toned and creased. Corners worn. Multiple mailing folds. Otherwise, fine condition.