Description:

Philip Kearny
[Alexandria, VA], November 2, 1861
P. Kearny ALS Asking an Error "injurious to his rights" be Submitted to the President for Review
ALS

Philip Kearny ALS to the Adjutant General of the U.S. Army [Lorenzo Thomas]. 1p., 8" x 9.875"; "at the ‘Seminary' [Virginia Theological Seminary near Alexandria]"; November 2, 1861. A firm and pointed letter stating that the Adjutant General's reply "to my representation of error" was not sufficient. Signed, "P. Kearny / Brig. General / New Jersey Vols." He adds his surname, "Kearny's" to the printed letterhead designating the New Jersey Brigade as his. Creasing along mail folds. Vertical edges have been reinforced with paper at an earlier time. A scarce war-dated letter by a hard-fighting general less than a year before being KIA at Chantilly.

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

In full:

"Your communication of Oct 26 in reply to my representation of error originating in the Bureau of the Secretary of the Army, in the arrangement of the ‘Register', injurious to my rights, & therefore to be submitted to the President, has been received.

It was hoped, that in a case of undeniable legal claim, that it would be sufficient to call it to the notice of the proper authorities. The mis-arrangement was considered a clerical error.

This reply in the name of the Secretary, I respectfully submit, does not meet the case.

I have the honor, Sir, to be your Obdt. Servt.
P. Kearny."

Although we cannot state with certainty what error "injurious" to his rights Kearny is referring to, his language and timing suggest the letter is a formal protest over how his record and the order of his appointment as a brigadier general was entered in the Army Register. In the wake of the Civil War's rapid onset, large numbers of generals were appointed in quick succession, often with overlapping or inconsistently recorded dates of rank. Establishing precise dates of appointment was critical, as seniority determined command precedence in the field, and this hierarchy was commonly reflected in the order in which officers appeared in the Register.

Kearny's reference to an error "in the arrangement of the ‘Register', injurious to my rights" strongly suggests he believed this ordering understated his proper standing. By calling it a "clerical error," he implies the mistake was administrative but carried real professional consequences, warranting escalation to the President.

Philip Kearny (1815-1862) was from a prominent and wealthy New York family, raised in privilege but drawn early to a life of soldiering. He served with distinction with the French in Algeria and later in the Mexican-American War, where he lost his left. At the outbreak of the Civil War, his resources and connections helped secure him a commission as a brigadier general, and he quickly became known as an aggressive and exacting commander in the Army of the Potomac. Less than a year after writing this letter, he was killed while reconnoitering Confederate lines at the Battle of Chantilly on September 1, 1862.

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: 9.875" x 8"
  • Medium: ALS

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