1866 Manuscript Letter – Ex. General and Governor Joseph R. Hawley

Description

1866 Manuscript Letter – Ex. General and Governor Joseph R. Hawley
Offered for your consideration is a manuscript letter accepting a dinner invitation, written on state government stationary, and signed at the conclusion by a recently mustered-out Union general and present governor of Connecticut. The letter is boldly headlined “
State of Connecticut
, /
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
:”, and written from “
New Haven
” on “
May 29
th
186
6
” (though most people think of Hartford as the capital of Connecticut, New Haven served as the co-capital from 1701 through 1873). To the left is an attractive representation of the state seal, flanked by flags and agricultural products. The body of the letter reads: “
My Dear Sir
/
I find your note of the 26
th
upon my table on my return this morning to New Haven, and I hasten to answer it. It will give me great pleasure to accept your invitation to a dinner at the Union Club, I shrunk from formal public dinners where speeches may be expected, especially in Boston but nothing could give me greater satisfaction than to meet the gentlemen whom you name.
”. He continues: “
You speak of meeting me at the railroad station; I shall probably go up the
Shore
Line
; you will know whether or not it has the same terminus as the
(?)
road, - Col. Wm. B. Wooster (Paymaster General of the State, late Colonel of the 29
th
Conn.
Colored
) will accompany me. I shall not start to return before Saturday.
/
Respectfully Yours
/
Jos. R. Hawley
”. It is addressed at the left to “
E. W. Kinsley Esq.
/
37 Franklin St.
/
Boston
” (Edward Wilkinson Kinsley, a staunch defender of the Union and future railroad executive). Though the topic is somewhat mundane, the individuals involved, both the author and the recipient, were prominent in the recently ended American Civil War, and the mention of Colonel Wooster of the 29
th
Connecticut (Colored) Infantry is an added bonus (many do not realize that Connecticut had a state designated African-American unit during the Civil War). A great addition to any political or Civil War autograph collection.
Joseph Roswell Hawley
was born on October 31, 1826 in the village of Stewartsville, North Carolina, though he moved to Connecticut (his father’s home state) when he was eleven. He graduated from Hamilton College in 1847, after which he practiced law, was a delegate to the Free-Soil convention in 1852, helped organize the Connecticut Republican party, and became editor of the
Hartford Evening Press
(1857). At the outbreak of the Civil War, Hawley aided in the recruiting of the first company of the 1
st
Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, in which he was commissioned a captain. He became lieutenant colonel of the 7
th
Connecticut Volunteer Infantry in September, 1861, and colonel of that unit in June the following year. He served with his regiment in the Port Royal expedition, the investment of Fort Pulaski, the battles of James Island and Pocotaligo, and the Florida expedition, where he commanded the city of Fernandina, Florida. He led a brigade at Morris Island during the siege of Charleston, South Carolina, and again at the battle of Olustee (Ocean Pond), Florida. Transferred to Virginia, Hawley led a brigade in Alfred H. Terry’s division, serving through the operations against Petersburg. Promoted to brigadier general of volunteers on September 13, 1864, he led Terry’s division after that officer took command of the Fort Fisher campaign. The close of the war found Hawley in district command in North Carolina. Brevetted major general of volunteers, Hawley was mustered-out in 1866, the same year he was elected governor of Connecticut (he served from May 2, 1866 to May 1, 1867). He served in the United States House of Representatives from December 2, 1872 until March 3, 1875, and again from March 4, 1879 through March 3, 1881. Almost the rest of his life was spent in the United States Senate, where he served from March 4, 1881 until March 3, 1905. Joseph R. Hawley died on March 18, 1905 in Washington, D. C. and was buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford, Connecticut.
The presently offered letter exhibits signs of expected period use (it was mailed), followed by reasonably good long-term storage. Light toning is noted across the entire surface, slightly darker along the left edges. This may be the result of the paper becoming damp at some time, as surface wrinkling seems to be associated with the darker area. One horizontal and two vertical folds are present (one corner folds is also noted), as are the aforementioned wrinkles at the left. One of the vertical folds neatly bisects Hawley’s signature, though the paper is strong and in no danger of separation. These folds have caused the paper to weaken at the edges, however, thereby causing some minor separations (these could be strengthened with archival tape if desired). The contrast is sharp and bold, though some minor fading can be seen on the words of the last line. Ink corrosion can be seen on some of the letters, though no paper has been lost. This interesting piece measures approximately 7¾ x 9¾ inches. Sadly, with the vignette and body of the letter on one side and the signature on the other, this piece would be somewhat difficult to frame for display. Still, a nice, representative example of this Civil War officer and long-serving politician.
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Buy or Bid with Confidence – American Coins & Collectibles President Richie Self has worked 6 years as a paper money grader/authenticator. He has contributed to numerous reference books within the industry, as well as being a co-author of “The Comprehensive Catalog and History of Confederate Bonds, 2
nd
Edition” with Douglas B. Ball, Ph.D., Henry F. Simmons, M.D., Ph.D. and James R. Desabaye. Mr. Self is a life member of the American Numismatic Association, the Society of Paper Money Collectors, as well as numerous regional numismatic associations. He is an authorized submitter to NGC, PCGS, and PMG, a diamond founding member of Coin Dealers Helping Coin Dealers and a supporter of the Industry Council for Tangible Assets. American Coins and Collectibles can be found at many of the state and local coin shows.
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