MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 09/08/1891 - HFSID 72573

MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM WELLS
The Union general who received the Congressional Medal of Honor signs this letter to a collector, dated the year before his death
Autograph letter signed: “William Wells” in black ink. 5¾x9½. Burlington, Vermont, September 8, 1891. Written to Mr. A. E. Allen in Trenton New Jersey. In full: “Dear Sir: As requested in yours of 31st August I send you by mail a photograph [not included]of myself for your private album, with the understanding that it will be used for no other purpose, yours respectfully”. William Wells (1837-1892) enlisted in the 1st Vermont Cavalry in September 1861, rising through the ranks to brigadier general by war's end. He fought in 70 cavalry engagements, leading a battalion and then a brigade, and usually leading his troops from the front. He received the Congressional Medal of Honor for gallantry at the Battle of Gettysburg (1863). His rank of brevet brigadier general, conferred in February 1865, was made permanent by a commission three months later, on the personal recommendation of Generals Sheridan and Custer, under whom Wells had fought. Sheridan called Wells "my ideal of a cavalry officer." After temporarily commanding the Union's Cavalry Corps after the departure of Sheridan and Custer for the West, he returned to his home state of Vermont, founded a business in Burlington, served in the state legislature, was active in veterans' organizations, and was Collector of Customs for Vermont (1872-1885). Lightly toned. Corners rounded and creased. Bottom edge creased and lightly torn. Left edge torn from booklet. Normal mailing folds. Pencil note (unknown hand) on bottom edge. Faint pencil erasure in upper right corner. Otherwise, fine condition.