Description:

DANIEL SICKLES
(1825-1914) Union major general who commanded a brigade at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, where his rash advance in the Peach Orchard nearly caused a Union rout. War date A.L.S. 3pp. 8vo., "Head Quarters Near Alexandria" Sep. 29, 1862 to Adjutant Gen. Lorenzo Thomas concerning expanding the Excelsior Brigade into a full division: "I have received several applications from Regiments desiring to join my command and believing it would not be difficult to organize an Excelsior Division to be comprised of New York Regiments if the Governor favors the proposal. In order to develop the Excelsior Brigade into a Division I would begin by organizing the 2nd Excelsior Brigade, under the command of Brig. Gen. Milton Taylor (late Col of the 72nd N.Y.) With your Approval five of your new Regiments could be so organized... Those Regiments desiring to [?] in the Division could be ascertained & made known to you through Col. Graham now in charge at New York City. Four Regiments would be sufficient: because I would add Gen. Taylors orphaned Regiments to his Brigade; and so with the other Brigades of the Division - I would assign one of my veteran Regiments to each new Brigade. There is good reason to believe that Col. Dwight will by promoted as soon as [?] and Col. Graham … for that such Brigade would be commanded by experienced officers. While in Albany I submitted this programme[?] to His Excellency the Governor who was pleased to signify his approval … Col. Benedict desires to join the Division. Col. Buckingham has expressed the same desire. Col. Trumbull also and Col Danforth. I believe I could organize a Division which would do credit to to our State - and if I do not overestimate the success of the Excelsior Brigade the public judgment would approve of its expansion into a Division." On the verso, a penciled endorsement (possibly in Thomas' hand) notes that " … his Excellency Gov. Morgan would not disapprove of the formation of a division … He nevertheless deems it best to take no active part in the matter leaving the Government to take such a course as may be deemed most conducive to the good of the service … " The Army never did see the utility in expanding the Excelsior Brigade into a full division. Sickles, with little formal military training was far more concerned with his public reputation than improving his command skills. This fact would play out tragically at Gettysburg where his insubordination nearly destroyed the III Corps on July 2, 1863. Sickles lost his leg to a cannonball in the battle, effectively ending his military career.

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December 9, 2011 11:00 AM EST
Stamford, CT, US

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