Description:

George H. Thomas
Washington, D.C., March 16, 1869
George H. Thomas Takes Command of the Pacific: "Sherman informed me that he could not therefore choose but give the Order effect…"
ALS
George H. Thomas Takes Command of the Pacific: "Sherman informed me that he could not therefore choose but give the Order effect…"

Fine association and content autograph letter signed, three pages, 5" x 8", Washington, March 16, 1869. Thomas directs a letter on lined blue letterhead to his predecessor as commander of the Division of the Pacific, General Henry W. Halleck. Finely penned and expertly inlaid into another sheet with overall dimensions of 8" x 11.5". One area of light toning at top margin, in very good condition and offered with a fine portrait engraving measuring 4.75" x 7", also inlaid.

In part: "…In the general break up incident to a new administration I find myself assigned to the command of the Mil. Div. of the Pacific and that you have been assigned to the Mil. Div. of Louisville, Ky. I learn…that this order of assignment was insisted on by the President & General [William T. Sherman] informed me that he could not therefore choose but give the Order effect. This being the situation of affairs…I am directed to obey the order as soon as the Court of Inquiry for the accusation of charges against Genl Dyer has completed the duties assigned it. It will take us all of this month & perhaps part of April to complete our duties so that I shall be able to start about the 1st of May, and as I have a house in Louisville leased for two years longer I can offer it to you on the same terms…'.

In March 1869 and for reasons that are not immediately clear, Thomas requested the position to command the Military Division of the Pacific, a sort of "military exile," replacing Henry W. Halleck, who had created the division in 1865. This area consisted of the Department of the Columbia and Department of California. Thomas died of a stroke on March 28, 1870, and was replaced by John M. Schofield. The Military Division of the Pacific was discontinued on July 3, 1891.

George H. Thomas (1816 - 1870) Thomas graduated 12th in the West Point class of 1840, fought with distinction in the Mexican War, and remained in the U.S. Army after his home state, Virginia, succeeded. Promoted to brigadier general of volunteers in August 1861, Thomas was assigned to Kentucky, where he won a significant victory at Mill Springs in January, 1862. He fought at Shiloh, Corinth, Perryville and Stone's River (or Murfreesboro), but won widest acclaim for stout defense at Chickamauga. For this he was thereafter known as the "Rock of Chickamauga". He succeeded William S. Rosecrans in command of the Army of the Cumberland for the remainder of the war. First under Grant's and then under Sherman's Western Department Command, Thomas led his army during the campaigns for Chattanooga and Atlanta. When Sherman marched to the sea, Thomas and the Army of the Cumberland faced off against John Bell Hood in Tennessee, and ultimately destroyed Hood's army at the Battles of Franklin and Nashville in late 1864. After the war, he commanded the Department of the Cumberland through March 1869 before transferring to the Department of the Pacific. A former slave owner, Thomas' experience commanding African American soldiers led him to change his views, and he became a staunch defender of civil rights during Reconstruction (1865–1876). He died on March 29, 1870, just one year after this letter.

Henry W. Halleck (1815-1872) was Lincoln's General in Chief and adviser during the Civil War. Less of a soldier than an advisor and administrator, he was demoted in 1864 Ulysses S. Grant's to be Chief of Staff. In that role was able to use his administrative capabilities, supporting Grant in the Overland and Richmond-Petersburg campaigns. After the war he was assigned command of the Military Division of the James, headquartered in Richmond, then in August 1865, transferred to the command of the Division of the Pacific. As evinced in our letter, Halleck was transferred to command the Military Division of the South.

Alexander B. Dyer (1815 - 1874) was a Union brigadier general who invented the "Dyer" shell and worked at the Springfield Armory throughout the war. Following the war, Dyer had to contend with the demands of arms inventors and contractors, who ultimately took their various complaints to Congress. Seeking to clear his name, Dyer asked for a court-martial. Failing in this, he requested a court of inquiry, which proved to be protracted and exhaustive. He was not only exonerated, but was declared to be an exemplary officer, worthy of emulation by all Army officers.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8" x 11.5"
  • Medium: ALS

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