2023-03 HCA Auctions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/7/2023
CRAWFORD, Samuel Wylie (1829-1892) was a United States Army surgeon and a Union general in the American Civil War. He served as a surgeon at Fort Sumter, South Carolina during the confederate bombardment in 1861. He transferred to the infantry early in the war and led a brigade at Cedar Mountain which routed a division that included Stonewall Jackson's unit, though it was later driven back. He was severely wounded at Antietam and returned to action at Gettysburg, where his division drove the Confederates out of "the valley of Death" beside Little Round Top, with Crawford dramatically seizing the colors and leading from the front. The preservation of the battlefield, however, is largely due to his efforts. Union Surgeon's 2pp. letter written by S.W Crawford to the Post Master in New York. Datelined, Fort Sumter SC, March 21st, 1861, in full, "Dear Sir, I have been informed that there is letter to my address in your office. Will you be kind enough to enclose it to me at once. Postage stamp is enclosed. Yours truly, S.W. Crawford, M.D. , USA." On the reverse is the Postmaster Secretary's response, in full "There is no letter in this office for you, either need for postage or otherwise. I can assure you that no letter for you or my friend Maj. Anderson, or any other officer at Fort Sumter would be detained, and that every man in this office would deem it a privilege to be allowed to pay postage on such a letter. Very Respectfully, R.O. Morgan, Secretary."
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