Description:

THE UNION OFFICERS WHO DEFENDED FORT SUMTER
An especially rare grouping of the signatures of the nine men who defended Fort Sumter during the April 12-13, 1861 Confederate bombardment which sparked the Civil War. A contemporary collector has labeled the top of a 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" sheet: "Officers Commanding Fort Sumter" and affixed a gem-sized photo of fort commander, Gen. ROBERT ANDERSON at upper-left. Beneath is mounted a 3 1/2" x 1 3/4" card signed and dated by Anderson: "Fort Sumter SC Feby 13. 1861 Yours sincerely Robert Anderson Major U.S.A.". Below Anderson's signature is a single sheet bearing the signatures of the eight highest ranking officers beneath Anderson when the fort was bombarded. Each has signed adding rank: ABNER DOUBLEDAY as "Captain 1st Artillery", TRUMAN SEYMOUR as "Capt. 1st Artillery", NORMAN J. HALL as "2nd Lt. Arty", R. K. MEADE, JR." as "Lieut Engrs", G. W. SNYDER as "Lt. of Engs U.S.A.", S. W. CRAWFORD as "Med: Staff", and JOHN G. FOSTER as "Capt. Engrs". Overall very good to fine condition. These signature were undoubtedly gathered prior to the surrender of the fort, while the entire country watched the face-off between Abraham Lincoln and Southern secessionists. These men would become the first Union soldiers to order fire upon the enemy during the Civil War.

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December 9, 2015 10:30 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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