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THBUSA Signal Corps Archive Identified to James F. Hall, 1st NY Eng.
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6270 Este Ave.
Cincinnati , OH 45232
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About Auction
LiveJun 22, 2018
Cowan’s American History: Premier Auction, scheduled for June 22, 2018 is comprised of early photographs, documents, manuscripts, broadsides, flags, and more dating from the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, Late Indian Wars, World War I and II and beyond. Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com
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- Lot Description
Lot of approx. 50 items identified to James F. Hall. His documents mention Generals Buford, Gregg, and movements of the Confederates after Gettysburg. The lot includes a 3pp ALS, 5.25 x 8 in., Washington DC. July 28, 1863; CDV of Hall; and 46 messages to various captains and generals at multiple signal stations.
James Frederick Hall enlisted shortly after the start of the war as a major. The New York Engineers took a while to organize. Hall enlisted near the end of July, but the unit was not accepted into state service until September 27, and was mustered into Federal service by companies from October 11 (Cos. A, B, C, D, E), December 2, 3, 13 (G, K, I) to February 19, 1862 (F, H). On October 10, Hall was commissioned into Field and Staff, and by February 14 was promoted to lieutenant colonel. He achieved the rank of colonel in early 1865, and by the end of February received a brevet brigadier generalcy. At the end of the war he was in command of the regiment. In April 1864 the unit veteranized and Co. M was formed from recruits in the field.
Although formed as an engineer regiment, the unit went first to Port Royal, SC, where it served in the Dept. of the South. It was engaged at Port Royal Ferry, Battery Vulcan, SC; Fort Pulaski, where its flag was the first Union banner to fly over the fort; James Island; Secessionville; Coosawhatchie River; Caston's and Frampton's Plantations; Morris Island, Siege of Fort Wagner, Fort Sumter; Seabrook; John's Island, Olustee, FL; and Morris Island. They were engaged later in the war as well, including the final assault on Petersburg in April 1865. They were mustered out at the end of June 1865 at Richmond, VA.
The lot includes a letter from Hall to his wife, 3pp (5 x 8 in.), Washington, July 28, 1863. On "Office of the Signal Officer" letterhead. In this he relates that he has unexpectedly been called to Washington, probably to take one of the examinations. "I have one consolation that if my general intelligence does not pass me my record as a signal officer will. If neither passes me I am coming home for I shall not return to the Regiment again.
"...Our Head Quarters are now at Warrenton. I have been ordered into Gen. Mead's Hd. Qrs. They say I am and can be of more service there than anywhere else on account of my ability to make correct observations and reliable reports. By the way I have a new name. In consequence f my success in report[ing] correctly I am called 'Old Reliable.' The wife changes her name with that of her husband, so how[?] are you Mrs. Reliable."
A CDV of Hall is also included, with identification on verso as BBG, and imprint of S.A. Cooley, 10th Army Corps, Beaufort, SC. (lower corners trimmed) Samuel A. Cooley also made a stereoview of Lt. Col. Hall's Headquarters at Morris Island (see LOC Prints and Photographs collection) - not included in this lot.
Accompanied by a receipt for payment of a note in full for William E. Hall, Union Township, Beddford [sic] Co., PA, April 5th 1870, "...for a note dated some time in december 1866. Said note is now lost or mislaid." Plus a cover addressed to Col. James Hall, Renovo, Clinton County, PA.
A printed General Order No. 246, July 23, 1863 has been folded around a group of 43 message slips, printed with blanks at top for name, from and Signal Station. (also pre-printed with 1862 at bottom, although these are from 1863.) 2.75 x 3.5 in. August 4 - 26, 1863. Most of these concern the situation in Virginia. Many are to or from Carl Schurz and General Gregg. Others are Generals Sedgwick, Humphreys, Williams, and Ingalls (Chief QM, Army of Potomac), plus a couple of Surgeons. The signal stations recorded are Water Mt., Sulphur Springs, H.Q., Catlett's, Warrenton, and "Gregg's." On August 15, Hall sent a message to Capt. Norton: "Nothing new this PM To[sic] Smoky to see South of the Rapidan."
On August 11, Hall sends message to Capt. Norton: "Have just returned from Piney mountains. No possible advantage could be gained by occupying it as a station of observation. It is not so high as this [Watery Mountain Signal Station] and is but a little nearer Culpepper....It would require considerable labor to remove the trees....I could not observe the enemy's camp smoke around Culpepper any better than from here."
August 12: "Capt Norton, Nothing new visible in rebeldom from this point. The heaviest camp smokes are seen the vicinity of Orange C.H."
The same day: C.R. Smith (chief of staff) to Gregg: "The reserve brigade are turning in their surplus of horses at Catletts Station today. The majority of the horses are very fair. Do you wish any for your command. If you do send your Q.M. to exchange them."
An exchange on August 17: Norton to Capt. Davies: "Cannot keep the ambulance. Have you found Dinsmore?"
Davies to Norton: "Dinsmore has no transportation. Can we keep the wagon."
Also August 17: Maj. Gen. Carl Schurz to Maj. Gen. Sedgwick: "Any further news from Stuart's Cavalry. Supposed to be in our rear." To which Sedgwick replies: "Nothing since morning."
On August 18, Schurz messages Gen. Williams: "Eight days subsistence on hand. Five days forage. Ammunition the same. Only a few serviceable cavalry horses could be gotten out of the government depot at Catletts Station."
A very important message from W.H. Hutchins, Paymaster, to Gen. Gregg: "Where are the 6th Ohio Cavalry. Can I get to them to pay them." To which Gregg replies: "The 6th Ohio Cavalry is at Warrenton. Apply to Col. McIntosh for Ambulance." Hutchins then sends a message to Col. W. Stedman: "Can you send an ambulance & escort for me at Warrenton this P.M. at 3 or 4 o clock. "
The following day, August 21: Gregg messages Col. J.B. McIntosh, Comdg. 1st Brig.: "The Maj. Gen. Comdg Corps directs that scouts be sent out from your Brig. in the direction of Little Washington & Sperryville as also towards the gap of the Blue Ridge. Let this be done and telegraph if anything is discovered."
On August 24, Capt. Norton asks Hall: "What is the condition of the atmosphere for making observations." To which Hall replies: "Have reconnoitered the country from Brandy Station via Culpepper to Amisville and have been unable to discover the enemy anywhere in this range of our telescope. No movement whatever..."
The following day: Hall to Norton: "Lt. Taylor & myself have carefully reconnoitered the country from Culpepper to Chester Gap and have not been able to discover any movements of the enemy. We saw eight mounted men supposed to be our own near Gaines Cross roads. We now see smoke rising about 10 miles W. of us and where we reported it last evening. If any movement had taken place on the road W of Amisville we must have see them for the roads are most all in view and the atmosphere has been favorable."
August 25: G.M. Ludoc, Chf. QM 11th C. to "Gen. Ingalls, Chf. QM A.of P.: At what time will you have transportation for the detail of 500 men from Manassas Junction to Alexandria." Schurz reports to Gen. Williams: "The detail for Alexandria left Manassas Junction at 4 P.M."
One message is to a Surgeon (Campbell) in the 11th Corps that he could requisition three boxes of lemons. In another message (August 26), Surgeon Letterman asks Surgeon Campbell where they are headquartered, to which Campbell replies that the 2nd Div. HQ is at Bristoe Station.
On the 26th, Hall lets Norton know that they have scanned the area south of the Rapidan. At 9 A.M. "We have had the best view of the season this A.M. Orange C.H. & in vicinity show no signs of enemy save a few Hospital tents. Nothing seen around Culpepper. No evidence of enemy a force N. of said place. No camp smokes of any consequence seen N. of the Rapidan." In a second message with no time recorded: "Woods between a point S & S 10o W from this station have a smoky appearance. Few tents seen in edge of woods at point S. 5o W & S 8o W. Nearer Clarks Mountain where heavy smoke was formerly reported none is now visible. Heavy smoke reported in the vicinity of Orange C.H. seem to have disappeared. See no indication of the enemy about Culpepper. Considerable change has taken place since last good view & all with a Southern tendency." Schurz confirms that a reconnoitering party sent out found nothing to Gaines' Cross Roads and beyond.
Most very good. General order is folded and separated where wrapped around the message slips. Other than trimmed crns. cdv is fine. Letter with minor surface soil on verso.Condition
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