Seth Kaller, Inc.

General Hamilton requests another battery of artillery.  The letter is passed up the chain of command to General Barry, the Chief of Artillery.

CHARLES SMITH HAMILTON (1822-1891). Autograph Letter Signed (“C. S. Hamilton”), as General U.S. Army, with additional autograph endorsements on verso by S. P. Heintzelman, James A. Hardie and William F. Barry. Div. Hd. Qrs., April 12, 1862. To Gen. S. Williams. 2 pp, 7¾ x 10 in., ruled paper, closed tear.

Inventory #20363.05       Price: $1,500

Transcript

“Div. Hd. Qrs. Apr 12 1862

General

            I understand the Fourth Battery for my Division has been designated and is on the Peninsula.  I beg it may be ordered to report to me forthwith.

 

                                                            I am General

                                                                        Very Respy

                                                                                    Your Obt. Srt.

                                                                                                C. S. Hamilton

                                                                                                            Brig Gen

                                                                                                                        Comdg Div.

Brig Gen S. Williams

            AAG

                        Army of the Potomac

[docketing on verso, as request is passed up the chain of command, not transcribed]

[Barry’s reply, written on verso:]

Respectfully returned.  The Battery intended for Hamilton’s Div[isio]n. was to have been withdrawn from Richardson’s, which latter was to have been supplied with a Battery from the Art[iller]y: Depot in Washington.  Circumstances compelled the ordering of the Battery intended for Richardson elsewhere.  As soon as another Battery can be prepared, the original design will be carried out.

                                                                                    William F. Barry

                                                                                    Brig. Genl. Ch[ief]-of-A[rtiller]y”

At the beginning of the Civil War, Charles Smith Hamilton was appointed Colonel of the 3^rd Wisconsin regiment and promoted to Brigadier-General of volunteers. He served in Virginia during the siege of Yorktown in May, 1862, and in September of that year was promoted to Major-General of volunteers. After the siege of Yorktown, he was transferred to the Army of the Mississippi, commanded a division at Corinth, and won the battle of Iuka. Afterward he commanded the left wing of the Army of the Tennessee and the 16^th corps. He resigned his military commission in April of 1863. Hamilton went on to serve as President of the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin from 1866 until 1875.

Historical Background

In the Peninsula Campaign of April-July 1862, Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan attempts to attack Richmond with his (Union) Army of the Potomac from the southwest (up the peninsula between the James and York rivers in Virginia, rather than marching south from Maryland).  Despite swamps and swollen rivers, which make it difficult to move artillery, the Federals are able to advance within a few miles of Richmond, and fight the Confederates to a draw in the Battle of Fair Oaks (also called Seven Pines, May 30-June 1).  However, after Fair Oaks, President Jefferson Davis assigns Gen. Robert E. Lee to command the Army of Northern Virginia, which defends Richmond.  In a series of engagements called the Seven Days’ battles (June 26-July 2), Lee counter-attacks strongly, and convinces McClellan to abandon the campaign.

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