MAJOR GENERAL EDWIN D. MORGAN - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 01/14/1863 - HFSID 320810

EDWARD D. MORGAN
He signs an autograph letter advising the appointment of Colonel Nelson B. Bartram to the 20th Infantry of Colored U.S. Troops
Autograph Letter signed: "E.D. Morgan", 1 page, 5x7. Washington D.C., January 14, 1863. To "Col. Geo Philips" In full: "I am of the 13th with accompanying papers in at hand. I have the pleasure to inform you that Lieut. Col. Bartram was today appointed as Colonel of the 20th Colored Regt. Very Truly yours". Republican Morgan was Governor of New York from 1859-1862, serving as Major General of Volunteers from 1861-1863. He served one term as a U.S. Senator (1863-1869), but was not reelected, and he was unsuccessful again in a new bid for Governor (1876). He was successful in the business world, too, rising from grocer to executive and board positions with several corporations, including the Erie Railroad, Wells Fargo, and American Express. Morgan was offered the post of Secretary of the Treasury by President Arthur in 1881, but declined. Colonel Nelson B. Bartram (1823-1886), a school teacher at the break of the Civil War, enlisted in the 17th New York Volunteer Infantry to serve with the Union. Soon he rose through the ranks and was appointed Lietunant Colonel of the 20th Infantry of Colored U.S. Troops. Seen as a huge and experimental risk for Bartram to run the newly freed blacks, Bartram led his troops from Riker's Island to Louisiana from 1864 to 1865 until he and his remaining soldiers were honorably discharged. Today, the GAR monument honors Bartram in Port Chester, New York. Lightly creased. Folds do not touch signature. Multiple mailing folds. Lightly creased and toned. Lightly soiled. Ink note intended for recipient (in unknown hand) on verso. Otherwise, fine condition.