Description:

Hamilton Charles

Charles Smith Hamilton Requests More Artillery during Civil War Siege of Yorktown

1p ALS signed by Charles Smith Hamilton (1822-1891), then Brigadier General of the U.S. Army, as "C.S. Hamilton" near center. Written at the Division Headquarters of the Army of the Potomac on April 12, 1862. On cream, blue-lined paper with blind-stamp at upper left. With additional autograph endorsements verso by S. P. Heintzelman, James A. Hardie, and William F. Barry. Expected paper folds and a minor closed tear found at lower left recto, else near fine. 7.75" x 10".

In full:

“Div. Hd. Qrs. Apr 12 1862

General

I understand the Fourth Battery for my Division has been designated and is on the Peninsula.  I beg it may be ordered to report to me forthwith.

I am General

Very Respy

Your Obt. Srt.

C. S. Hamilton

Brig Gen

Brig Gen S. Williams

AAG

Army of the Potomac"
.

[docketing on verso, as request is passed up the chain of command, not transcribed]

[Barry’s reply, written on verso:]

"Respectfully returned.  The Battery intended for Hamilton’s Div[isio]n. was to have been withdrawn from Richardson’s, which latter was to have been supplied with a Battery from the Art[iller]y: Depot in Washington.  Circumstances compelled the ordering of the Battery intended for Richardson elsewhere.  As soon as another Battery can be prepared, the original design will be carried out.

William F. Barry

Brig. Genl. Ch[ief]-of-A[rtiller]y”.


At the beginning of the Civil War, Charles Smith Hamilton was appointed Colonel of the 3rd Wisconsin regiment and promoted to Brigadier General of Volunteers. He served in Virginia during the Siege of Yorktown (April 5- May 4, 1862) but was relieved of command for insubordination on April 30. In September of that year, Hamilton was promoted to Major General of Volunteers. After the siege of Yorktown, he was transferred to the Army of the Mississippi, commanded a division at Corinth, and won the Battle of Iuka. Afterward he commanded the left wing of the Army of the Tennessee and the 16th corps. He resigned his military commission in April of 1863. Hamilton went on to serve as President of the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin from 1866 until 1875.

In the Peninsula Campaign of April-July 1862, Major General George B. McClellan attempted to attack Richmond with the Army of the Potomac from the southwest (up the peninsula between the James and York rivers in Virginia, rather than marching south from Maryland).  Despite swamps and swollen rivers which made it difficult to move artillery, the Union soldiers were able to advance within a few miles of Richmond. They fought the Confederates to a draw in the Battle of Fair Oaks (also called Seven Pines, May 30-June 1).  However, after Fair Oaks, President Jefferson Davis assigned General Robert E. Lee to command the Army of Northern Virginia, which defended Richmond.  In a series of engagements called the Seven Days’ battles (June 26-July 2), Lee counter-attacked strongly, and convinced McClellan to abandon the campaign.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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