2006-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/31/2006
A truly historic and important Civil War document being one the earliest, if not the first, official request to one of four Massachusetts militia regiments to assemble in accordance with Lincoln's first call of 75,000 troops to defend Washington after Confederate forces bombard Fort Sumter. This war-date manuscript document is Special Order, No. 14, 1p. 4to., issued by Adjutant General William Schouler, Boston, Ma., April 15, 1861 to Col. David W. Wardrop ordering him to assemble the 3rd Massachusetts "Minute Men" Militia, reading, in full: "You are hereby ordered to muster the regiment under your command on Boston Common forthwith in compliance with a requisition made by the President of the United States the troops are to go to Washington. The Regimental band will be dispensed with. By order of his Excellency John A. Andrew…". From the personal papers of Charles C. Doten who kept this document, as a souvenir of the war, in an envelope that he inscribed, in part: "…3d Regt. Mass. Vol. Militia 'Minute Men', Civil War April 1861. 1st call for troops April 16, 1861. Standish Guards in Boston…". During the late morning of April 16, 1861, the 3rd Massachusetts arrived in Boston as did her sister regiments-the 4th , 6th , and 8th Massachusetts. On the 17th, the regiment departed for Virginia and was immediately dispatched to Norfolk Naval Yard taking part in the latter's destruction after arriving there. Within two days of the Union disaster at Bull Run, they were mustered out of United States service at the expiration of their three-month term of service. Most of these early volunteers reenlisted and serviced in other regiments. For example, Col. Wardrop became colonel of the 99th New York in 1862, and Doten became a captain in the 38th Mass Vols. serving until being discharged for disability in April 1863. Near fine.
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