Bidspirit auction | (LEVY, BENJAMIN). “Historical Report of

(LEVY, BENJAMIN). “Historical Report of Company G, First New York Infantry, from its Organization to the Present Date, April 6, 1863.” Autograph Manuscript by the Company Commander, EBENEZER VAN TUYL (1826-1900). Eighteen pages, bound in original ribbon. Folio. AN EXTENSIVE MANUSCRIPT REPORT THAT WAS THE BASIS FOR THE MEDAL OF HONOR AWARD TO ITS FIRST JEWISH RECIPIENT. The action recorded herein is the basis for the award of the first Medal of Honor to a Jew: BENJAMIN BENNETT LEVY, who enlisted at sixteen years of age as a drummer boy in Company G, First NY Infantry, on October 20, 1861. Captain van Tuyl’s account of Levy’s heroic action is consistent with the citation in the Medal of Honor awarded to Levy two years later: Van Tuyl recorded: “As an act of personal bravery meriting consideration I respectfully mention the conduct of Sergeant Benjamin Levy (then a Drummer) who saved two of the Regimental colors at the Battle of Glendale after the color guards had been nearly all killed or wounded.” For his heroism Levy was promoted to sergeant on November 20, 1862. He was wounded at the Battle of the Wilderness.