PRESIDENT ULYSSES S. GRANT - NAVAL APPOINTMENT SIGNED 01/07/1873 CO-SIGNED BY: GEORGE M. ROBESON - HFSID 13088

ULYSSES S. GRANT and GEORGE M. ROBESON
The pair signs this document appointing Benjamin E. Fernald “Carpenter in the Navy”
Partly Printed Document signed: "U.S. Grant" as President and "Geo. M. Robeson" as Secretary of the Navy, 1p, 15½x9. Washington, 1873 January 7. On vellum. Appointment of Benjamin E. Fernald as "a Carpenter in the Navy". ULYSSES S. GRANT (1822-1885) had little success in civilian life but was one of the greatest military leaders the United States has produced. After winning many victories on the Mississippi during the American Civil War, culminating in the capture of Vicksburg (1863), he was brought to the Virginia Theater to face the forces of Robert E. Lee, which had bested a long series of former Union generals. He finally compelled Lee's surrender (April, 1865) on generous terms. Grant's two terms as Republican President (1869-1877) were less successful. Although he achieved progress on several fronts, including his crackdown on the Ku Klux Klan, the personally honest Grant proved unable to prevent graft by subordinates. GEORGE M. ROBESON (1829-1897), a Union General during the American Civil War, served as Grant's Secretary of the Navy from June 25, 1869 to March 3, 1877. Robeson was repeatedly accused of corruption (bribery taking, and diversion of Navy funds for his private use), but was so adept at covering his financial tracks that he earned the nickname "Cuttlefish." Twice an unsuccessful candidate for U.S. Senator from New Jersey (1876, 1880), he served as a U.S. congressman for the state from 1879-1883. Heavily rippled. Blue paper seal affixed at lower center. Lightly yellowed. Glue stains at margins and mounting remnants at upper and lower margins do not touch text or signatures. Grant's signature and concluding five letters of Robeson's signature are light but legible. Otherwise, fine condition.