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Tuesday, September 18, 2001 Auction Catalog

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321

THE GENERAL WILLIAM WORTH BELKNAP (1829-1890) GROUPING. An interesting array of items formerly belonging to Civil War General and later Secretary of War, W.W. Belknap. Lot consists of 20 articles related to the Gen. Belknap, including but not limited to the following; one CDV of Gen Belknap in uniform and inscribed in pencil on lower margin with name, a city of Keokuk, Iowa Gen W.W. Belknap GAR encampment medal, a Hardee Hat eagle side plate, a pin-back artillery device, small folding knife, pair of gilded cufflinks, pair of uniform buttons, a pair of engraved shield plaques one reading “Presented Col. W.W. Belknap 15th Iowa Infty, Vet Vol. By the officers of his regiment June 14th 1864,” also another similar shield engraved “Made by E.P.Meyer & Bros’s Philad, Pa.” Lot further includes a hand written note to Belknap from General William Tecumseh Sherman (1820-1891). Written in pencil on a personalized stationary card imprinted W.T. Sherman General, it reads For Gen Belknap- Thanks for your inquiry. I do not regard myself as sick. And Dr. Nooris thinks I should be great in a couple of days. W.T. Sherman.” Additionally a hand written note executed on Executive Mansion stationary and dated Oct. 30, 1873, it reads: Dear Mr. Secretary: I enclose you directly the card with the Presidents memorandum. A special car goes with the train to your_________. Indistinguishably signed. Also a 23” x 19” printed and filled-in document appointing Belknap into the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, dated June 28, 1887 and boldly signed in ink by their Commander in Chief, Philip Henry Sheridan. It was General Sheridan who routed the forces at the battle of Five Forks and was active in the Chattanooga and Wilderness campaigns. Additionally lot contains an ORIGINAL and rare 19” x 14” “Republic of Georgia ORDINANCE OF SECESSION broadsheet, as passed on January 19, 1861.  Lot also includes a hand written and signed letter to Belknap from then President of Princeton, James McCosh (1811-1894), letter inquires as to the well being of Belknap’s son. Also a Society of the Army of the Tennessee rail pass named to the General and dated November 15, 1866, also invitation to attend a dinner held by Mr. Ito, presumably Japanese Prince and statesman Hirobumi Ito (1841-1909), also two letters addressed to Belknap as General and as Secretary of War. Additionally lot contains 2 handwritten documents belonging to Belknaps father General William G. Belknap who died in 1851. And other paper items.  Belknap was commissioned a Major in the 15th Iowa Vol. Infantry in which he served with distinction. He was wounded at Shiloh and after recovering was promoted to Colonel in 1863. After showing great leadership qualities at Vicksburg he was promoted to General and was with Sherman on his march to the sea. After the war he became a Collector of the IRS in the state of Iowa. In 1869 he became Ulysses S. Grant’s Secretary of War, in 1876 he resigned under a cloud of suspicion. He died in Washington and is buried there at Arlington National Cemetery. A short bio accompanies this lot.

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