Description:

Ulysses S. Grant
West Point, NY, July 12, 1866
U.S. Grant ALS to Ex-Staff Member Who Lent Him a Horse After His Own Was Shot Out from Under Him
ALS

An autograph letter signed by Ulysses S. Grant as Commanding General of the U.S. Army to a friend and ex-member of his staff. 3pp of a bifolium, measuring 5" x 7.75", West Point, New York, dated July 12, 1866. Signed "U.S. Grant/Lt. Gen." and addressed to William Hillyer, who was one of the original members of Grant's staff. Grant writes to contradict recent news reports that he was displeased with Hillyer's nomination for Naval Officer. The letter has flattened mail folds with light spotting and staining in places. Slightly rough top edge. Large, bold signature.

In full:

"Who ever informed the Editor of the Herald that I have in any manner opposed your appointment as Naval Officer told what was untrue and what there was no foundation for. As far as I allow myself to go in making recommendations I have given in your favor for the appointment allowed to, Civil appointments I mean. You are not the 'oldest inhabitant' but you have no other home but New York City and are unquestionably as eligible for office as any other citizen."

William Sillman Hillyer (1830-1874) was an American lawyer who practiced in Saint Louis, where he met Ulysses S. Grant. Once the war broke out, Hillyer was chosen to be a member of Grant's staff, and was one of its original members and the last surviving member of the original staff. At the Battle of Belmont on November 7, 1861, Hillyer was of particular service when Grant's horse was shot from under him, and Hillyer offered him his mount so that Grant was able to continue to lead his forces.

After the close of the war Hillery was appointed a revenue-agent by President Grant and was later nominated as general appraiser in the custom-house in 1874, but his name was withdrawn after much opposition. He continued to pursue a political career in New York but was unsuccessful due to opposition from various political rivals. In 1868 Hillyer was appointed a U.S. revenue agent by President Andrew Johnson until the position was abolished by Congress. Hillyer was also nominated for naval officer, but his nomination was blocked by Senator Roscoe Conkling.

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.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

  • Dimensions: 5" x 7.75"
  • Medium: ALS

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

July 16, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000