Governor of Pennsylvania
War Date Autograph Letter Signed
"...will be pleased to receive for my gallant Regt. a stand of the colors of my beloved native state."
(1819-1873) From the age of 16 he had been a militia lieutenant and with the outbreak of war with Mexico, he was elected Lieutenant Colonel of the 2nd Pennsylvania Infantry, and took part in General Winfield Scott's advance from Vera Cruz to Mexico City. In the interval between the close of the Mexican War and start of the Civil War, Geary organized the post office system in California, served as the 1st mayor of San Francisco, and for several months was the territorial Governor of Kansas. On June 28, 1861, he was appointed Colonel of the 28th Pennsylvania Infantry and joined the command of General N. P. Banks at Harpers Ferry. He distinguished himself in several engagements and was wounded at Bolivar Heights, captured Leesburg in March 1862, was twice wounded at Cedar Mountain, and returned to action in time to command a division of the 12th Corps at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Later transferred to the western army, he fought at Chattanooga, the Atlanta campaign and took part in General Sherman's celebrated March to the Sea. After the capture of Savannah, Ga., Geary was appointed it's military governor. His post war career saw him elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 1866, serving two terms.
War Date Autograph Letter Signed: 7 3/4 x 9 3/4, in ink.
Encampment 28th Regt. Pa. Vols. Oct. 11th, 1862
S.R. Hilt, Esq.
Dear Sir:
Your letter of 9th inst. is rec’d and its contents duly noted.
Relative to procuring a stand of Pennsylvania colors for the 28th Regt. I would advise you to consult with Capt. H.H. Wilson now on duty at Philadelphia and who I am informed was endeavoring to accomplish a similar purpose. I do not know how far he has progressed in the matter, but it will be well to have no collision about it.
Supposing all to be right and as you desire, such points as you may see proper to refer to in my "military and political history" can reliably be found in "the annals of San Francisco"- "Geary & Kansas" and other western histories. These books can readily be obtained in your city. I have no objections to your programme, and will be pleased to receive for my gallant Regt. a stand of the colors of my beloved native state from your hands, or the hands of such person as you may designate.
Very Respectfully, Yours &c,
Jno. W. Geary
Light age toning and wear. |