His handwritten March 1783 letter as Governor of Massachusetts, instructing a garrison commander to forbid a ship full of Tories to disembark, requiring them to sail instead for New York (still in British hands) Autograph Letter, unsigned, 1 page, 7¾x12. Written as Governor. Boston, Massachusetts, 1783 March 27. To William Gordon, Commander of the Garrison in Dartmouth. In full: "I have this moment received your Letter by Express, giving information of the arrival of a Flag with a Number of Persons on board who were desirous of remaining some time at Dartmouth. I have laid the state of this Flag before the Council, & in consequence of their advice you are hereby Directed upon no pretense whatever, to suffer any of the Persons or any of the Effects brought in the Flag to be Landed at Dartmouth, or in any other place, but that you give immediate Directions for the Departure of the Flag with the Persons, & their effects to New York, and that after the Receipt of this Letter you make a point of Embracing the first fair wind to put her under Sail for New York, as no circumstance can possibly induce me to Deviate from this order. I am Sir your very humble servant.…"

Giant 16½x21 portrait photo of a seated Sherman in uniform, taken in 1888 by famed photograph Napoleon Sarony of New York. An extremely rare oversized photo of the legendary general! Photograph signed: "W. T. Sherman/General/New York/March 21, 1888/born Feb. 8 1820". Sepia, 16½x21.  William Tecumseh Sherman (1820-1891), a West Point graduate and Mexican War veteran, served as a corps commander under General U. S. Grant in successful Union campaigns down the Mississippi and in Tennessee, then took command of the western armies when Grant was reassigned to the Virginia theatre of war. His capture of Atlanta and subsequent "march to the sea" through Georgia, followed by a swift campaign north through the Carolinas to force the surrender of the last major Confederate army, are praised for their military skill but condemned to this day for their "scorched earth" approach to occupied territory. After the war, Sherman applied similarly harsh but effective methods in campaigns against Amerindian tribes of the Great Plains. As commanding general of the U. S. Army (1869-1883), he established the Command School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Sherman, who personally shunned politics ("If nominated, I will not run; if elected, I will not serve.…"

The former Union officer is supported by Confederate officers as he fights to clear his name.  ALS: "F.J. Porter", 4p, 5x7¾. New York, 1882 January 24. To Colonel Charles Marshall, Baltimore, Maryland. Begins: "My dear Colonel". In full: "I Thank you warmly for your full reply to my letter - I knew or believed that no written messages had passed between Longstreet & Gen Lee to the effect I wrote you - but Longstreet had testified to that effect before the Board. had written it years before. and Col. W.M Owens of New Orleans. had without confering (sic) with Longstreet. stated he heard Gen Lee about 1. PM. tell Longstreet to advance. & Longstreets reply that he wanted to hear from Stuart of the force coming up on this right - and So I took it for granted it was so. I am glad to have the details you give. That Genl Lee had a contempt for Genl Pope and justly I never doubted. He knew Pope. I don't think that any grounds could have induced him to make the moves he did. unless he was vastly superior in numbers to Pope and knew Pope would not be reinforced in time to save him. and I think it was fortunate for him that he did not get around to his flank as early as you say he intended.…"

2½x4 carte de visite, seated in uniform Photograph signed: "D. G. Farragut". Sepia, 2½x4 carte de visite by J. Gurney & Son of New York. David G. Farragut (1801-1870, born James Glasgow), adopted by Admiral David Porter in 1814, served more than fifty years in the U.S. Navy. Commissioned at age 10, he participated in the War of 1812 (1812-1814), the Mexican War (1846-1848) and the Civil War (1961-1965). In 1864, two years after Farragut, as Commander of the West Gulf Blocking Squadron, captured New Orleans (April 25, 1862), Rear Admiral Farragut was assigned to capture the defenses of Mobile Bay. He began his approach on August 5, 1864. It was during this Battle of Mobile Bay, as Farragut's ships entered the heavily guarded bay that filled with mines, then known as torpedoes, that Farragut exclaimed: "Damn the torpedoes!...Full speed ahead!" In 1866, when Admiral was established as the highest naval rank, Farragut became the first officer to receive that honor. Slightly worn at edges. Pencil notes (unknown hand) on verso (no show through). Otherwise, fine condition.

Eloquently demands protection of the Red Cross symbol. Manuscript Signed: "Clara Barton" circa 1893, three typed pages, 8 x 10½. American Association of the Red Cross President Barton issues a call for a meeting of the Official Advisory Board to consider the protection of the Red Cross Insignia. Her fight had begun shortly after the First Geneva Convention attended by governments from around the world in 1864. Barton fought for the U.S. Congress to ratify the Convention but fearing foreign entanglements the government would not ratify and acknowledge the Convention until 18 years later. After the chartering of the society in 1882, the charitable and international neutral symbol was also used for everything from snake oils, cigars, alcoholic beverages and later, her fiercest adversary, the burgeoning conglomerate Johnson & Johnson Company. This overwhelming misuse and lack of congressional action led Barton to call the first meeting of the association's Board in 1893. Ultimately, the Red Cross would receive limited protection with the organization's official chartering in 1900. Barton's manuscript, in part: "...…"

She writes, signs and dates the first two lines of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" on a book plate, which is affixed to the inside cover of her book, Later Lyrics. Autograph quotation signed: "Mine eyes have seen the glory/of the coming of the Lord./Julia Ward Howe./May 9th 1898." On a bookplate 3½x5½ affixed to inside front cover, 326p, 5x7, hardcover. Her book, Later Lyrics, J.E. Tilton & Company, Boston: 1866. Howe has written the opening line of her poem, The Battle Hymn of the Republic, which she was inspired to write after visiting army camps in Washington, D.C. in 1861 during the Civil War. Howe's poem, first published in the February 1862 issue of "The Atlantic Monthly", was later set to music to the tune of the popular antislavery song, "John Brown's Body", and became the semi-official song of the Union Army. Bookplate is lightly soiled at upper blank margin. Exterior cover of book and spine slightly worn. Internally sound. Fine condition.

JEFFERSON DAVIS, JOHN H. WINDER and THOMAS J. GREENDavis signs an autograph endorsement forwarding to Confederate Secretary of War Benjamin a handwritten letter from Green, a former general in the army of independent Texas, warning that Confederate soldiers were carrying CSA weapons home with them. General Winder adds a handwritten note to the same document, ordering that guards be posted at depot and they confiscate these weapons.Civil War-date Autograph Endorsement signed: "Sec of War attention./J D", as President of the Confederate States of America in pencil in upper blank margin of letter to him. THOMAS J. GREEN. ALS: "Thos J Green", 1p, 7¼x9¼. Esmeralda near Warrenton North Carolina, 1862 March 17. To "HIS EXCL./JEFFERSON DAVIS/PRES. C.S.A.". In full, original spelling: "I feel it my duty to call your attention to what I believe is highly detrimental to the public service. From what I have seen every train going south from Virginia has then, either discharged, furlowed, sick, or pretendedly so, carrying with them side and fire arms belonging to the confederate government. Should you concur with me in the opinion that no arms should be brought from the seat of war under any pretext, you will apply the remedy in the right quarter.…"

Sword, overall length 43½ inches, and scabbard. The sword, which has a steel blade, has a brass hilt and wire and leather wrapped grip. The scabbard is steel. Sword is marked on ricasso: "Ames Mfg. Co. Chicopee, Mass. US JH 1858". On April 14, 1858, Ames Manufacturing Company in Chicopee, Massachusetts received an order from the Ordnance Department for 800 "New Pattern" Light Cavalry sabres. All 800 of these sabres, including this one, were delivered in October 1858, making them the first one percent of the 81,300 Light Cavalry sabres that Ames would produce for the Ordnance Department during the Civil War. This is likely the sword of an enlisted man, as their swords were usually dated on the ricasso. During the American Civil War (1861-1865), the Army was divided into three components: the infantry, the artillery and the cavalry. In the early stages of the war, the cavalry supported the artillery and infantry by scouting, gathering intelligence and generally serving as the "eyes and ears" of the Army. As the war progressed, however, the cavalry took an increasingly offensive role, and by the end of the war the Union cavalry was recognized as fearsome offensive force. The light cavalry always fought mounted, using pistols and sabres, such as the one offered here.

Comprises: (1) Autograph Letter Signed: "your affectionate Brother", 3½ pages, 7 5/8 by 9¾. Camp Newbern, N.C., February 16, 1863. Normal folds. Slightly worn at folds on first page, else fine. To his brother, Joseph Wensel, Pottstown, Montgomery County, Pa., who Americanized the family name. Henry has written his letter with a German accent. Spelling not corrected. In part: "I in form you that I Received your letter on the 13th day of february and 25 cents in money and 4 postage Stamps and I was very glad to hear from you and the old folks and I was very much obliged for the money and Stamps...I wish you whould fetch my two Saws too over to your house and keep them in your Care till Come home and if you want to youth [use] them why youth them till I Call for them and if I never Come home no more why you may keep them and pay to my Wife what you think is Ride [right] are what you think they are worth you may keep them for keeping in Repair as long as I am in Service...…"

A two page ledger documenting the work of strengthening walls and armaments, dated 1843 Manuscript document signed: "R E Lee/Capt Engrs", 1p, 23x8¾. Fort Hamilton, New York, 1843 October 24. In full: "I certify that the above Report is correct & that the cash account there in included is correctly stated." Lee was sent to Fort Hamilton in New York harbor as a Captain of the Army Corps of Engineers in 1842. He was charged with improving and fortifying the defenses and shipping yards at this crucial Northern port. This document is a two-page ledger (front and verso) that documents the work for strengthening the walls and armaments on those walls for work up to September 30, 1843. Lee not only managed the project but, he was the dispersing agent for the moneys outlaid for the project. The scope of work is divided into two physical locations, the Fort itself and the Redoubt, which is the barrier surrounded by a parapet (a protective screen to protect troops from frontal assault) that is dominated by guns and heavy fortifications behind it. The following construction was executed on these locations: Masonry, Carpentry, Smithery, Stone Cutting. The cost of these efforts in both materials and labor are documented in both dollars and cents per effort.

As a Lt. Colonel in the US Army (1849), Bragg signs an autograph letter commending in vivid detail an artillery sergeant who fought with him at Buena Vista in the Mexican War, a battle that forged an enduring connection between Bragg and Jefferson Davis. Autograph Letter signed: "Braxton Bragg/Lt. Col. U S Army", 1 page, 8x6¼. Baltimore, 1849 September 19. No addressee, probably a general letter of recommendation for Love. In full: "Sergeant Love was joined to my company at Monterey in Mexico. In the assault on that town he displayed Courage activity and presence of mind I had every reason to be satisfied with his conduct. In the great Battle at 'Buena Vista' he commanded a gun in my battery and in the darkest hour of that eventful conflict his cheerfulness and contempt for danger infused a spirit in the men which was highly beneficial and conductive to the fortunes of the day. Sergt. Love deserves well of his country for his gallantry long services and good conduct." Braxton Bragg (1817-1876) graduated from West point in 1837 and served with distinction in the Mexican War, as a captain at the Battle of Monterey and major at the Battle of Buena Vista (the battles he references in this letter).

Signatures of 18 Senators, 6 Representatives, and 4 territorial delegates on a manuscript document ordering copies of a Senate speech delivered one month before the House voted to impeach President Andrew Johnson. Many of these signers, including Benjamin Wade, Benjamin Butler and Oliver Morton, were of great importance in the Civil War and Reconstruction eras. Manuscript DS by 28 members of the 40th Congress of the United States, 1 page, 8x12½. Washington, circa 1868 January 16. Order form for copies of the "Speech of Hon. William M. Stewart/of Nevada on the Bill To establish a/National School of Mines/Delivered in the Senate Jan. 16th 1868/To be printed McGill & Wetherow's Globe Office at $2 per 100". Each Senator or Representative has added the number of copies ordered next to his signature: "Wm M. Stewart 3000", "C. Cole 500", "O.P. Morton 200", "H.W. Corbett 200", "J.M. Thayer 200", "W.H. Hooper 100", "J.K. Moorhead 200", "Benj F. Butler 100", "G.M. Chilcott 200", "B.F. Wade 300" in pencil, "W. Higby 100", "Coles Bashford 200", "J. Fran Chaves 200", "Lewis Selye 200", "N.P. Banks 100", "Alex G. Cattell 200", "J M Howard 200", "F.T. Frelinghuysen 200", "J.W.…"