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1863 Civil War General & Chief Engineer of the Army JOHN GROSS BARNARD ALS

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:300.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 600.00 USD
1863 Civil War General & Chief Engineer of the Army JOHN GROSS BARNARD ALS
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Civil War Union Autographs
Union Civil War General & Chief Engineer of the Army of the Potomac John Gross Barnard Military Academy Head
JOHN GROSS BARNARD (1815-1882). Union Civil War General, served in the Mexican-American War, Superintendent of the United States Military Academy and Civil War Chief Engineer of the Army of the Potomac.
June 29, 1863-Dated Civil War Date Autograph Letter Signed, “J.G. Barnard,” 3 pages, folio, 5” x 8”, Washington, Choice Very Fine. Written to Messrs. Richardson, Spears & Thompson, asking that they make him a pair of summer flannel pants with pockets that buttoned, not after the French fashion, which previously caused him to lose his wallet and a $300 check. Typical folds with light toning and a mild stain near the lower left of the front. It reads, in full:

“Messers. Richardson, Spears & Thompson: --- I wish you to make me a pair of summer flannel pants, like those I had last year. Do not make the pockets after the French fashion but after the old fashion with a button. The heavy pair you last made had French pockets. I sent them back to be altered (with some other changes) but they came back with pockets unaltered. The consequence was that the first journey I made I lost my wallet with a check for $300. The pocket was not picked, but having taken out the wallet I put it back, while sitting down in the car, the mouth of the pocket was so low that the wallet dropped out. The French pockets are unsafe to carry anything in, unless one keeps always on his guard. I knew that the pockets would lose what was in them & hence my sending them to you to alter which you neglected to do. Your -- (Signed) J.G. Barnard, Brig. Gen.”
John Gross Barnard (May 19, 1815 – May 14, 1882) was a career engineering officer in the U.S. Army, serving in the Mexican-American War, as the Superintendent of the United States Military Academy and as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

He served as Chief Engineer of the Army of the Potomac, 1861 to 1862, Chief Engineer of the Department of Washington from 1861 to 1864, and as Chief Engineer of the armies in the field from 1864 to 1865. He also was a distinguished scientist, engineer, mathematician, historian and author.