MAJOR GENERAL QUINCY ADAMS GILLMORE - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 11/06/1863 - HFSID 256820

GENERAL QUINCY ADAMS GILLMORE
In this American Civil War-dated letter, Union Major General Quincy Adams Gillmore wrote this reply to an autograph hunter from Folly Island, South Carolina in 1863.
Autograph letter signed "Q. A Gillmore/Maj Gnel/Comdg". Pencil notations near bottom left corner. 1 page, 5½x8, with ½x1 sepia-toned photo of Gillmore near bottom left corner. Headquarters, Department of the South, Folly Island, South Carolina, Nov. 6, 1863. Addressed to E. C. Doughty, Esq. Brooklyn, New York City, New York. In full: "Dear Sir: In reply to yr note of the 2nd ulti: requesting my auto-graph, I beg leave to subscribe myself. Your Obed Serv". Union Major-General Gillmore (1825-1888, born in Black River, Ohio), who graduated from West Point at the top of his class in 1849, was Assistant Instructor of Engineering at the Military Academy from 1852 to 1856. At the outbreak of the American Civil War, his 7th Connecticut Regiment Infantry was assigned to Wright's 3rd Brigade in Sherman's Expeditionary Corps until April of 1862. Following the successful campaign in Port Royal, South Carolina, Gillmore was in charge of building fortifications at Hilton Head. Later in 1862, he assisted in the capture of Fort Pulaski. Promoted to Major-General in 1863, Gillmore commanded forces occupying Morris Island, Fort Wagner and Fort Gregg, and he participated in the destruction of Fort Sumter. After being wounded in the defense of Washington in 1864, Gillmore did not participate in the remainder of the war, but he remained in the Army Corps of Engineers. Ironically, he was later involved in the reconstruction Fort Sumter, which he had helped destroy, and other fortifications and harbors along the Atlantic Coast. Gillmore also wrote several books on engineering, including The Siege and Reduction of Fort Pulaski (1863), The Strength of the Building Stones of the United States (1874), A Practical Treatise on Roads, Streets and Pavements (1876) and Limes, Hydraulic Cements and Mortars. Lightly soiled at edges and toned. Adhesive from photo touches handwriting but not signature. Folds and creases (not near signature). Photo is lightly silvered. Rounded corners with missing top right corner. Otherwise in fine condition.