General Frederic Phisterer, Large Grouping of Medal of Honor Documents

About Auction

Live

American History: Live Salesroom Auction

By Cowan's Auctions

Nov 17, 2017 - Nov 18, 2017

Set Reminder 2017-11-17 10:00:00 2017-11-18 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : American History: Live Salesroom Auction https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/cowans/american-history-live-salesroom-auction-2769
Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com

View Full Catalog (372)

• Lot Description

  Large Grouping of 40+ Commissions and other documents Issued to General Frederick Phisterer (1836–1909) Civil War MOH (Medal of Honor) recipient, Indian Fighter, and Adjutant General of the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic), and Acting Adj. Gen. of New York State. A select few are signed. Significant among the documents is a letter from General Henry C. Corbin, Adjutant General of the U.S. Army, transmitting to Phisterer on behalf of the President his MOH, and a scarce Medal of Honor Legion Certificate signed by General Nelson Miles. Medal of Honor Award certificates are more rare than the medal itself, many having been lost or destroyed with the passage of time. In 1890 the Medal of Honor Legion was organized by Civil War and Indian Wars MOH recipients to protect the integrity of the MOH by creating a centralized roster of recipients. This was believed necessary because the GAR and other veterans groups began presenting awards that resembled the MOH with the result that a group of impostors were pretending to be war heroes. The roster was a reliable resource to debunk the claims of impostors. Phisterer’s name is listed among the 1st Class Members in the Medal of Honor Legion Roster.

  FREDERICK PHISTERER was born in Germany in 1836 and emigrated to Ohio when young. In 1855 he joined the U.S. Army and served on the western frontier in the 3rd U.S. Artillery until being discharged as a Sergeant in December 1860. When the Civil War began he re-enlisted with the 18th U.S. Inf. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in October of 1861 and was brevetted Captain in 1862 for extraordinary heroism at Stone River for “voluntarily conveying, under a heavy fire, information to the commander of a battalion of regular troops by which the battalion was saved from capture or annihilation.” He later received the Congressional Medal of Honor for this same action. Post war he remained in the U.S. Army. He was brevetted Captain and was honorably discharged in 1870. He then became associated with the Ohio and New York National Guards. He was brevetted Brigadier General for organizing and training soldiers for the Spanish American War. In 1891 he was appointed Adjutant General of the GAR. He was Acting Adjutant General of New York State from 1901-02, and was promoted to brevet Major General at his retirement as recognition of his many years of successful service. He died in Albany, N.Y. in 1909.

  The documents include, in part: LS, January 12, 1895, to Col. Phisterer by General Henry C. Corbin (1842–1909-- Bvt. Brig. Genl. of Colored Troops Civil War, Commander of Buffalo Soldiers, with President Garfield when shot and when he died, Commander in Geronimo and Pine Ridge Indian Campaigns; Adjutant General of the US Army during the Sp. Am. War) transmitting Phisterer’s MOH. In part: “I have the honor to transmit herewith the Medal of Honor presented to you by direction of the President, you having [gives account of his actions at Stone River, TN on Dec. 31, 1862, for which he is receiving the MOH], Respectfully, H. C. Corbin, Asst. Adj. General. 1 enclosure: Medal of Honor. Corbin pencils at the bottom of the letter: “Dear Colonel I congratulate you H.C.C.”;

  DS. June 9, 1897, Washington D.C., [Certificate No. 220] receiving Phisterer as “Companion of the First Class of the Medal of Honor Legion of the U.S.;” Signed by General Nelson A. Miles as Commander of the Legion (and Commanding Gen. of the U.S. Army) and John Tweedale, as Adjutant. Both Miles and Tweedale were MOH recipients in the war, with Tweedale receiving his MOH in the same action for which Phisterer received his MOH;

  DS- Oct. 20, 1861, War Dept., Wash, signed by U.S. Secretary of War Simon Cameron, appoints Phisterer 2nd Lt. in the 18th U.S. Inf.;

  Vellum Doc, April 11, 1867, appointing Phisterer Captain of the 36th U.S. Inf., w/ printed sigs. of President Andrew Johnson and Edwin Stanton, but signed by E.D. Townsend as Asst. Adj. Gen.;

  Vellum Doc, Sept. 10, 1866, conferring Bvt. Rank of Capt. to date from May 1864 for “gallant and meritorious services at the battles of Mission Ridge, Tennessee, and Resaca, GA.," w/ printed sigs. of President Andrew Johnson and Edw. Stanton, but signed by E. D. Townsend;

  ALS, 1901, by N.Y. Governor Benjamin B. Odell to Maj. Gen. C. F. Roe, informing him that Phisterer is appointed Acting Adj. Gen. of N.Y.;

  ALS, 1879, Special Orders acknowledging Phisterer’s resignation as Capt. in the Ohio National Guard by Leander R. Hoagland;

  DS. June 1, 1895, Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the U.S., making Phisterer “Companion of the First Class” signed by General Lucius Fairchild as C-I- C, and John P. Nicholson as Recorder in Chief;

  Vellum DS, March 5, 1903, Appts Phisterer Adj. Gen of the N.Y. National Guard. Signed by NY Gov. Charles Evan Hughes (later Chief Justice U.S. Sup. Ct) & General Nelson H. Henry as Adj Gen.;

  Vellum DS, January 2, 1905, appt. Phisterer Major Gen. by Brevet in N.Y. Natl. Guard, signed by N.Y. Gov. Frank. W. Higgins, and Gen. Nelson H. Henry as Adj. Gen.;

  Vellum Doc., Nov. 4th, 1858, Benica Barracks, Colorado, appt. Phisterer as a Corporal in Co. A, of the Third U.S. Artillery, signed by Lt. Col. Charles S. Merchant [C. W. Bvt. Brig. Gen.] and 1st. Lt. John G. Chandler [Became General- first to suggest the name “Prescott” for the capital of Arizona] as Regimental Adjutant;

  Vellum DS, Oct. 2, 1860, Presidio, California, appt. Phisterer Sergeant of Co. A, Third U.S. Artillery, signed by Bvt. Lt. Col. George Nauman (d. 1863) and Lt. John G. Chandler [later General] as Regt. Adjutant.;

  Vellum Doc. January 1, 1895, appt. Phisterer Asst. Adj. General of N.Y., w/ rank of Colonel, signed by N.Y. Gov. Levi P. Morton (formerly U.S. Vice President and Minister to France) and General E. A. McAlpin as Adj. General. (McAlpin also President of Boy Scouts America)-- Oath signed (twice) on the reverse by Phisterer;

  DS., Aug. 4, 1870, Gen. Orders discharging Phisterer from the U.S. Army, Signed by Asst. Adj. General Thomas Mc. Vincent [Civil War Bvt. Brig. Gen];

  DS, June 3, 1907, Lincoln Farm Assoc. Cert. for preserving Abe Lincoln Homestead.;

  Colorful DS, Nov. 3, 1891, Headquarters, Old Guard, Wash. D.C., making Phisterer and Honorary Member of the Old Guard , Signed by Capt. James M. Edgar, Commander of the Old Guard.;

  DS. Sept. 30, 1895, by Tiffany & Co. Decoration, for Service, signed by N.Y. Gov. Levi. P. Morton (former U.S. Vice President), and Gen. E. A. McAlpin, Adj. Gen. N.Y.;

  DS, Aug. 14, 1891, Appointing Phisterer Adjutant General of the GAR. Signed by John Palmer as C-I- C of the GAR.;

  DS., January 7, 1870, Omaha, NE, Special Orders, Acknowledges Phisterer dropped form the rolls of the 7th U.S. Inf. signed by 2nd Lt. F. L. L. Kendrick on behalf of Generals Sherman, Townsend, and Geo. D. Ruggles.. Signed by Paymaster and 2nd Lt. F. M. H. Kendrick (7th US Inf. at Little Big Horn);

  Vellum DS, Dec. 22, 1899, appt. Phisterer Asst. Adj. Gen. of N.Y. to Bvt. Brig. Genl. rank for gallant conduct and meritorious service (for Sp. Am. War) signed by N.Y. Gov. Frank. S. Black, and General Charles W. Tillinghast 2nd;

  DS, Aug. 9, 1877, Appt. Phisterer Capt. of Governor’s Guards in Ohio. Signed by Ohio Gov. Thomas L. Young [Bvt. Brig. Gen. Civil War], Milton Barnes as Ohio Sec. of State, and Char. W. Carr as Adj. Genl. of Ohio.;

  5 Vellum documents (similar to some above) various dates Appt. Phisterer Asst. Adj. General. N.Y. Guard, w/ various ranks signed by N.Y. Governors B. B. Odell, Roswell P. Flower, Frank W. Black, A. B. Cornell, and various N.Y. Adj. Generals., with Phisterer signing oath on the reverse of a couple;

  DS, Oct. 1, 1894, Ten year Faithful Service Cert. (printed by Tiffany & Co.) in NY State;

  Appx. 11 Masonic documents, including a large Ornate Masonic Doc. January 29, 1894, appearing to grant Phisterer status as a 33 degree mason. Signed by William E. Fitch C-I- C and Robt. D. Williams Grand Sec.

  Large Vellum Doc. Signed by Thomas Sparrow, Grandmaster of Ohio. also a few misc. signed documents re Phisterer, including pay documents signed during and after the Civil War.

  Condition

  Condition ranges from poor to very good. Appx. half of the documents are on vellum and half on paper. The documents were mounted to a silk backing (presumably from a large scrap book) with a portion of the silk backing remaining on many documents. Many documents appear to have been trimmed on the edges, which, except for a few instances, does not affect the printing and signatures. Some splits have been repaired on the reverse with old paper. Still, a nice, intact collection.

  Eliminate the Hassle of Third-Party Shippers: Let Cowan's Ship Directly To You!
  
  If you'd like a shipping estimate before the auction, contact Cowan's in-house shipping department at shipping@cowans.com or 513.871.1670 x219.

• Shipping Info

  • Eliminate the Hassle of Third-Party Shippers: Let Cowan's Ship Directly To You!

    If you'd like a shipping estimate before the auction, contact Cowan's in-house shipping department at shipping@cowans.com or 513.871.1670 x219.

    At the request of the buyer, Cowan's will authorize the shipment of purchased items. Shipments usually occur within two weeks after payment has been received. Shipment is generally made via UPS Ground service. Unless buyer gives special instructions, the shipping method shall be at the sole discretion of Cowan's Auctions, Inc.. Cowan's is in no way responsible for the acts or omissions of independent handlers, packers or shippers of purchased items or for any loss, damage or delay from the packing or shipping of any property.

• Buyer's Premium

  • Hammer Price	Premium (%)
    $0	28.00
    $250,001	23.00
    $3,000,001	15.00