Description:

Joshua Howell
Near Washington, DC, March 14, 1862
J. Howell Signed Ordnance Invoice - He Died from Wounds Sustained the Day After Promotion to Brevet Brig. General
DS

Joshua B. Howell signed war-dated document. 1 p., 7.75" x 12.75"; "at Meridian Hill near Washington, D.C."; March 14, 1862. A list of ordnance and ordnance stores signed "Joshua B. Howell" at bottom as colonel of the 85th Pennsylvania Volunteers. With expected folds, light soiling and a few ink stains. Filing dockets on verso.

From the collection of Larry Berra, son of baseball legend Yogi Berra.

Included in the list of ordnance were "98 Austrian Rifled Muskets. Caliber. 69", "5 Non Commissioned Officers Swords", and "2000 Blank Cartridges. Caliber. 69." The 85th Pennsylvania (recently raised in November 1861) had been stationed in the defenses of Washington, D.C. Just two weeks after the date of this invoice, on March 29, 1862, the Regiment was ordered to Fortress Monroe and joined the Army of the Potomac for operations in the Peninsula Campaign. The timing strongly suggests that the ordnance listed here was issued in preparation for the regiment's imminent movement into the field, making this an evocative record of a newly raised unit transitioning from garrison duty to active campaigning.

Joshua B. Howell was mortally injured on September 12, 1864, while engaged in operations near Bermuda Hundred, Virginia. His horse fell on him, causing injuries from which he died two days later. He had been brevetted brigadier general of volunteers just one day earlier, on September 11, 1864, making his promotion tragically close to the circumstances of his fatal wounding.

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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  • Dimensions: 12.75" x 7.75"
  • Medium: DS

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