MAJOR GENERAL DANIEL E. SICKLES - AUTOGRAPH ENDORSEMENT DOUBLE SIGNED CIRCA 1862 - HFSID 253396

MAJOR GENERAL DANIEL E. SICKLES
The Union General wrote his endorsement on this request for a soldier's leave of absence, both in support of it and to deny it. This endorsement was written in 1862 during the American Civil War.
Autograph endorsement signed "DSickles" twice.4 pages, 5x7¾, 1 sheet folded, front and verso. Originally written at Headquarters 64th Regiment of New York State Militia, Gowonda, Cattaraugus County, New York. According to other endorsements on this letter, it was written sometime in 1862, during the American Civil War. Sickles signed his endorsement to this letter from a Col. George S. Hickory, asking for a leave of absence for one of his men so that he can visit family and friends. First endorsement in full: "Respectfully [illegible] to General Taylor: I hope Col. Hickory's request may be granted if possible." Second endorsement in full: "My Dear Col. I regret that recent orders from the War Dept. forbidding for-loughs to enlisted men deprive me of the plea-sure of complying with your request." Daniel E. Sickles (1825-1914), born in New York City, had gained notoriety before the Civil War when he shot Philip Barton Key, the son of Francis Scott Key, because he believed Key and his wife were lovers. (Sickles was tried for murder but acquitted, the first successful "temporary insanity" defense in U.S. history.) During the American Civil War, he rose from colonel to major general in command of a brigade at Gettysburg. Sickles, thinking that his position was vulnerable, moved his 3rd Corps from Cemetery Ridge to the battlefield's Peach Orchard without orders. His action drew criticism, but he was later credited with staving off disaster by blocking a surprise attack led by General James Longstreet against the Union Army's left flank at Little Round Top. Sickles lost a leg in the fighting, but won the respect of General Winfield Scott Hancock, in command at Little Round Top. Sickles' brigade, however, had the fifth most killed and wounded of all brigades in the war. He represented New York in the U.S. Congress (1857-1861, 1893-1895) and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1897. Lightly toned and creased. Burn marks, which touch handwriting but not signature. Pinholes along top edge. Random ink stains. Folded twice horizontally and thrice vertically. Small separations along vertical folds and wear folds touch. Otherwise, fine condition.