Bidspirit auction | CW 1865 Army of Georgia

CW 1865 Army of Georgia Circular Chain of Commd - Civil War 1865 Army of Georgia Circular Chain of Command. This exceptional pair of hand-written documents represents a ”True Copy” of a War Department circular issued on May 29, 1865, from the Adjutant General’s Office in Washington D.C.. Addressing the Commanding General of the Army of Georgia, the order mandates that all artillery within that army be ”immediately mustered out and Discharged,” specifically modifying General Order No. 94 to allow troops to return to their home states for final processing. The manuscript features the distinctive embossed seal of the Southworth Paper Company in the upper left corners, a high-quality paper manufacturer from West Springfield, Massachusetts, active during the era. he document acts as a ”chain of command” record: 1) Washington D.C. (May 29): Thomas M. Vincent (Assistant Adjutant General) issues the order. 2) Field Command: The order is transmitted to Brevet Major General J.C. Davis, commander of the 14th Army Corps (Army of Georgia). 3) Unit Level: Lieutenant Keeler receives the order and transcribes/certifies this copy to verify that his men are officially authorized to be sent home for discharge. Here is the personal service context for the officer mentioned: William H. Keeler. While the document lists him as ”Lieut. Keeler” in the endorsement section, official military rosters identify him as William H. Keeler. His service is a textbook example of a ”citizen soldier” who rose through the ranks- Enlistment: He joined the 19th Indiana Battery as a Private upon its organization in Indianapolis on August 5, 1862. Promotions: He demonstrated leadership early on and was promoted to First Sergeant. By the final year of the war, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant (June 1, 1864) and eventually First Lieutenant (May 1, 1865). The Document’s Context: At the time this circular was issued (May 1865), Keeler was a newly minted First Lieutenant. The note at the bottom of the document, ”Official: W. H. Keeler, 1st Lieut 19th Ind Battery,” indicates he was the officer responsible for certifying that this copy of the War Department's order was an authentic ”True Copy” for his unit's records. Final Service: He was mustered out with the rest of the battery on June 10, 1865, in Indianapolis, returning to civilian life after nearly three years of continuous combat and marching across the Southern United States. The document is rich with military provenance, signed by Assistant Adjutant General Thomas M. Vincent and endorsed by command of Brevet Major General J.C. Davis, with a final ”Official” certification by Lieutenant W.H. Keeler of the 19th Indiana Battery. Physically, the two pages of lined stationery are in very good condition for their age, exhibiting typical horizontal fold lines and light peripheral toning, though the ink remains bold and the text is perfectly legible. Two pages. H 10”, W 8” Please see photos.