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Estimate Range: $800 - $1,000
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Major General David Hunter Union Army Civil War Dated Autograph Letter Signed to Union General Lorenzo Thomas

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DAVID HUNTER (1802-1886). President of the Abraham Lincoln Assassination Military Commission that Tried the John Wilkes Booth Conspirators, from May 8 to July 15, 1865. Union Major General in the American Civil War who achieved fame by his “Unauthorized” 1862 General Order 11 Emancipating All Slaves held in three Southern States (then immediately rescinded by President Abraham Lincoln); sanctioned the organization of the first African American Regiment during the Civil War, Union Army Commander of the Department of the South.

January 16, 1862-Dated Civil War Period, Autograph Letter Signed, “D. Hunter / Major Gen. Com.”, measuring 7.75” x 9.75”, 1 page, written on “Platner & Porter” headed stationery, Headquarters Depart. of Kansas, Fort Leavenworth, Choice Extremely Fine. Some prior thin fabric tape used to reinforce some fold splits on the blank back, being invisible from the front. Here, David Hunter writes to Adj. General Lorenzo Thomas in Washington, in full:

“General: -- I respectfully request that Brig. General Benham may be ordered to duty in this Department. -- (Signed) D. Hunter / Major Gen. Com.”

David Hunter was one of the most Anti-slavery and Pro-black soldier of all Generals in the Union Army. He famously “Emancipated” Confederate held Slaves months before Lincoln announced his Emancipation Proclamation. The Letter is in exceptional high quality and is very attractive, relating to three Union Generals!
David Hunter (July 21, 1802 - February 2, 1886) was an American officer. He served as a Union general during the American Civil War.

He achieved great notability for his unauthorized 1862 order (immediately rescinded) emancipating slaves in three Southern states, for his leadership of United States troops during the Valley Campaigns of 1864, and as the president of the military commission trying the conspirators involved with the assassination of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln.

Lorenzo Thomas (October 26, 1804 - March 2, 1875) was a career United States Army officer who was Adjutant General of the Army at the beginning of the American Civil War. After the war, he was appointed temporary Secretary of War by U.S. President Andrew Johnson, precipitating Johnson's impeachment.

Brig. General Henry Washington Benham (April 17, 1813 - July 1, 1884) was an American soldier and civil engineer who served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.Benham was born at Cheshire, Connecticut. He graduated at the top of his class from the United States Military Academy in 1837. He was connected with various government works as a member of the Engineer Corps, and served in the Mexican War in 1847-48. From 1849 to 1852, he was superintending engineer of the sea wall for the protection of Great Brewster Island, Boston Harbor, and from 1852 to 1853 of the Washington (D.C.) Navy Yard.

In 1861 he was appointed engineer of the Department of the Ohio; in the same year he was promoted to be a brigadier general of volunteers and commanded a brigade at New Creek. He disobeyed orders and was subject to a court martial after the battle of James Island on June 16, 1862, at which he was in immediate command under Major General David Hunter. From 1863 to 1865, with the rank of lieutenant colonel, he was in command of the engineer brigade of the Army of the Potomac.

Benham was mustered out of the volunteer service on January 15, 1866. On January 13, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Benham for the award of the brevet grade of Major General of volunteers to rank from March 13, 1865 and the U.S. Senate confirmed the award on March 12, 1866.

On December 11, 1866, President Johnson nominated Benham for the award of the brevet grade of Major General, U. S. Army, to rank from March 13, 1865 and the U.S. Senate confirmed the award on March 2, 1867. Promoted to colonel in 1867, he was in charge of the Boston Harbor sea wall from 1866 to 1873, and of the defenses of New York Harbor from 1877 to 1882. He was an expert in the construction of pontoon bridges.
Keywords: Civil War, Union, Confederate, Presidential Collectibles, Political History, African-American History, Slave, Slavery, Black History, Emancipation, Freedmen's Bureau, Civil War Autographs
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Estimate Range: $800 - $1,000
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