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Hiram Berdan War-Date Autograph Letter Signed Twice.. ...
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$625.00
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Description
Hiram Berdan War-Date Autograph Letter Signed Twice.Four pages of a bifolium, 7 5/8 x 9 3/4 inches, West Lebanon, New Hampshire; November 10, 1862. Berdan, the commander of the Union Army's legendary volunteer sharpshooters, writes to Governor Edwin Morgan of New York, protesting the appointment of a "dishonest" officer to raise a new company of sharpshooters. In part:
"The authority granted by your Adjt General to Wm S Rowland in Special order 730 not only reflects such discredit upon my corps of Sharp Shooters but has so injured recruiting for the new companies in the state of New York, that I have no alternative but to inform you as to what I know of Mr Rowland, believing that you could not have been aware of his true character. I know him to be a constitutional liar, & a man entirely void of principal [sic] in every respect, & this I know to be his general reputation...Mr Rowland was Major of my 1st Regt but the charges brought against him were so serious, & the evidence so conclusive (at least so reported by a committee of his own selecting for a preliminary investigation) that he was compelled to resign...He knows nothing whatever of Military Matters, or as to the proper instruction for Sharp Shooters. He has often told me that he never shot a gun. I doubt not but he has deceived you as to the authority he has from the Secy of War...I therefore have the honor to ask that his authority be taken from him." Signed, "H Berdan / Col Comdg U.S.S.S."
In a lengthy postscript, signed "HB," Berdan adds that he is organizing new companies of sharpshooters "into Battalions of four companies each with a Major...That Battalion to form one Reg of twelve companies, the same as Cavalry, & one Reg to be assigned to a Corps, that each Division in the Corps may have one Battalion."
Berdan was an American engineer, inventor, and marksman who served as the commanding colonel of the United States Volunteer Sharpshooter Regiments during the Civil War. Widely regarded as the nation's top marksman prior to the conflict, he promptly offered his services to the government when war broke out and began recruiting companies of sharpshooters. At Gettysburg, his regiments played a pivotal role in delaying Confederate attacks, for which Berdan was brevetted Major General. In addition to his field service, Berdan invented numerous weapons and accessories, including the Berdan rifle and the Berdan centerfire primer.
Together with a period fair copy of the War Department's orders to William S. Rowland authorizing him to raise twelve companies of sharpshooters, with newspaper clippings related to the order affixed (with adhesive) to the top edge. Also includes a steel engraving of Berdan in uniform, 9 1/2 x 12 inches, published by J. C. Buttre.
Condition: Letter is lightly toned with smoothed folds and staple holes at the top margin; a few small separations at the integral fold; on the verso, paper affixed (with adhesive) to the right edge, covering a few words in the postscript. Copy of orders with staple holes and a few small separations at the folds. Some foxing to the engraving.
Auction Info
2025 December 8 Arms & Armor, Civil War & Militaria Signature® Auction #6325 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
December, 2025
8th
Monday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 1
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