James F. Rusling Signed Pension Check – Brevet Brigadier General

Description

James F. Rusling Signed Pension Check – Brevet Brigadier General
Offered is a post-war pension check issued to and endorsed by Samuel K. Gleason, a Civil War soldier who served in the 11th New Jersey Infantry and the Veteran Reserve Corps. The check bears a heading from the
“FIRST NATIONAL BANK”
of
“TRENTON”
, as well as one for the
“UNITED STATES DEPOSITORY”
. At the left end is a vignette depicting a bald eagle with outstretched wings standing on a shield, upon which is printed
“Department of the INTERIOR”
. Above and below this vignette is the issuing authority expressed as the
“UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR PAYING PENSIONS”
, while to the right is the obligation which instructs the recipient to
“Pay to
Samuel J. Gleason
or
order Eight
Dollars”
(it is interesting to note that Gleason’s middle initial is incorrectly written in the obligation). At the upper left of the obligation is a small circle inside of which is printed
“No Stamp required”
, a notation referring to the policy of affixing a revenue stamp to official documents. The check is signed at the conclusion by
“Jas. Rusling”
in his capacity as
“PENSION AGENT”
, and is dated
“SEPT. 11 187
1"
. This piece was produced by Hall L. Davis of Portland, Maine, with their imprint appearing at the lower margin. All of the manuscript portions of this document are executed in period ink, with the pre-printed portions accomplished in green ink (with the check number added in red). The top and right edges are straight and sharp (the top is actually a little wavy due to being trimmed), while the left and bottom edges are ragged from having been torn from a checkbook. The verso features the signature of
“Samuel K Gleason”
and two others, as well as two bank stamps, one bearing a cashier’s manuscript signature. Overall measurements are approximately 3.25 x 7.75 inches.
Cursory research indicates that Samuel K. Gleason enrolled and was mustered in on July 8, 1862 to serve as a private in Company I of the 11th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry. He transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps on January 10, 1865, and was discharged from that unit on June 27, 1865.
The 11th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry was mustered into service on August 15, 1862 and left the state for Washington, DC ten days later. They saw duty in the defenses of Washington until November, after which they were attached to the Third Corps of the Army of the Potomac. They were present at the battle of Fredericksburg, participated in the infamous “Mud March”, and fought well at the battle of Chancellorsville (sustained 169 casualties out of about 500 present for duty). At the battle of Gettysburg the unit saw heavy action near the Emmitsburg Road, with 153 men becoming casualties out of the 275 that went into action. The regiment participated in the Mine Run campaign in late November and early December prior to going into winter quarters near Brandy Station. With the dissolution of the Third Corps, the 11th New Jersey was assigned to the Second Corps, fighting with that group until the close of the war. They were present in virtually all of the major engagements fought by the Army of the Potomac from May, 1864 through the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia in April, 1865. They participated in the Grand Review on May 23, 1863 and were mustered out on June 6, 1865. During their term of service, the 11th New Jersey lost 11 officers and 131 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 107 enlisted men died of disease.
James Fowler Rusling
was born on April 14, 1834 in Washington, Warren County, New Jersey and attended the Pennington School in preparation for future studies at Dickinson College. Following his 1854 graduation, Rusling took up a teaching post at the Dickinson Williamsport Seminary, remaining there until 1857. That same year he was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar and opened a law practice in Williamsport. In 1859 he was admitted to the New Jersey bar and moved his practice to Trenton. Following the outbreak of the Civil War, Rusling became a first lieutenant and regimental quartermaster of the 5th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry on August 24, 1861. By October, 1862, Rusling had been promoted to captain and was serving as quartermaster of the 2nd Division of the Third Corps. In May, 1863, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and named quartermaster of the entire Third Corps. By the close of the war, Rusling was serving as the Inspector of the Quartermaster Department of the United States Army, and in February, 1866, he received a brevet promotion to brigadier general of volunteers. He returned to his law practice in September, 1867, served as a New Jersey pension agent from 1869 to 1877, and was a tax commissioner in 1896. He served as a trustee of Dickinson College on two separate occasions, once from 1861 through 1883 and again from 1904 until his death. James Fowler Rusling died at his home in Trenton on April 1, 1918 and was buried in that city’s Riverview Cemetery. Rusling wrote two major works regarding his military career, one entitled
Men and Things I Saw in Civil War Days
(1899) and the other titled
The Great West and Pacific Coast
(1877).
Due to the nature of the document, this piece exhibits substantial wear and evidence of rough handling. Three hard vertical folds are present, one of which passes through the last few letters in Rusling’s signature. Several other paper bends are noted for accuracy, principally located near the left and right edges. Light toning is present across the entire surface, with darker concentrations scattered throughout (especially near the edges). Numerous small tears can be found at the edges, several of which have been neatly repaired with mending tape. Three punch cancellations are present, though these are difficult to distinguish since none of the paper is missing. As visible in the illustration, several ink stains are present, though these are generally located away from the signature and design. A nice signature combination of a Civil War officer (and future brevet brigadier general) and a private from a hard fighting regiment
.
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If you have any questions regarding this item, please ask before bidding.
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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Shreveport, LA