Description:

Davis Jefferson 1807 - 1889

Jefferson Davis, as Secretary of War, requires officers to pay their enlisted servants; an ironic piece in light of the nature of Davis' personal servants.

Letter signed "Jeffer: Davis," as Secretary of War, 1 page, 7.5" x 9.75", Washington, July 2, 1856, to Lt. Horatio Gates Gibson at the Presidio in San Francisco. Light horizontal mailing creases, else very fine condition.

"Your letter of January 26 was duly received, claiming that the per diem allowed to soldiers serving in California by the Act of Sept 28 - 1850- would be taken as forming part of the 'pay' of the soldier in computing the commutation allowed for officer[']s servant. In reply I have to say that this question was raised soon after the passage of the Act and decided against the claim upon grounds which appear to me to be sound and the construction then given to the Act cannot now be disturbed."

Horatio Gates Gibson, a Maryland native, graduated from West Point in 1843 and served in the 3rd U.S. Artillery through the start of the Civil War. As captain in the 3rd U.S. Artillery, Gibson served with distinction at Williamsburg and at Antietam, for which he was brevetted Major and Lieutenant Colonel respectively. In 1863, he became Colonel of the 2nd Ohio Heavy Artillery, serving with that regiment until the end of the war, whereupon he returned to the 3rd U.S. Artillery (as a Major). He remained with the 3rd U.S. Artillery until his retirement as a full Colonel in 1891.

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