Description:

Civil War

Civil War Archive: German-American Soldier, P.O.W. at Chancellorsville & Gettysburg, Spy?--Includes a Journal in Cypher!

 

An outstanding archive of 75+ items relating to Otto Weber (born 1838), a Prussian born immigrant who served in Civil War Ohio and New York Volunteer Regiments. Weber, eventually promoted to the rank of captain, was twice captured by Confederates, first at the Battle of Chancellorsville, and second at the Battle of Gettysburg. His military service may have also included domestic or international espionage…more research is required to fully explore this diverse collection! With extensive research material compiled by Civil War historian Gary F. Elwell, including photocopies of Weber's service records retrieved from the U.S. Army Military History Research Collection. Expected wear commensurate with age, mostly very good to near fine.

 

Otto Weber was born in Bonn, Prussia and emigrated to the United States in 1851. During the Civil War, Weber proved his newly awarded American citizenship by serving in the 107th Ohio Regiment of Infantry Volunteers, the 15th New York Heavy Artillery, and the 15th New York Engineers. In addition, Weber held important staff and recruiting roles. He eventually became a Hospital Steward at City Point, Virginia and clerked in the U.S. Treasury and Internal Revenue Service before serving as a U.S. Consul to Prussia.

 

The archive, which spans the years 1851-1949, is comprised of military documents, legal documents, autographed letters signed by Weber, impressed clerical copies, family correspondence, telegrams, business cards, miscellaneous ephemera, cartes de visites, and photographs. Materials are mostly in English, but also in German and French. Roughly 25% of this collection appears to pertain to a woman named Mabel Weddell, whose connection to Weber still needs to be established.

 

Weber's Civil War dated military documents (at 25 pieces, a full quarter of the collection) are of especial interest, and include official orders of promotion, resignation, leaves of absence, prisoner exchange, and letters of recommendation. The most intriguing item is a pocket-sized journal written in Weber's hand entirely in cypher, and yet to be translated. Do these entries pertain to Weber's experiences as a P.O.W.? His observations of fellow soldiers, the enemy, military policy or procedure? If so, for what audience--federal or foreign?

 

As professional researcher Gary F. Elwell wrote in his appraisal of the archive, "The thorough decoding of the cypher book in Otto Weber's handwriting is certain to shed light on his service and what he commented on. Beyond that, the Weber collection will set off intense research on two continents to trace an obscure fellow who held significant and sensitive national positions throughout most of his years in America. There is much more to learn about this compelling personality who flitted around high places as a veritable gadfly, obtaining difficult objectives and securing even more difficult appointments..."

 

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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