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BERDAN, HIRAM

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:NA Estimated At:300.00 - 400.00 USD
BERDAN, HIRAM
(1823 - 1893) Union colonel in the U.S. Sharpshooters, inventor of a repeating rifle, a twin-screw submarine gunboat, and distance fuses for shrapnel among others. Good content A.L.S. "Berdan", 3pp. 8vo., Nov. 8, 1886 to Gen. DANIEL SICKLES (who dockets the letter on the verso). In part: "…Genl. Graham & Major Cooney have doubtless informed you that I arrived in Gettysburg in time, & that we marked the places where the New York Co.'s of my command were engaged…the principal monument should be placed on the spot where we made the attack at 1 P.M. on the 2nd day of July to get time for you to put our 3rd Corps in a position that would enable you to receive the enemy on your front in place of [your] flank or rear…I have Genl. [Hiram] Birney's official report making special mention of this reconnaissance & its important results - how he changed his line under your orders…[?] your opinion as to the importance of the services rendered by the sharp shooters, generally & especially in the attack referred to…". Moderate damage to lower-right corner costs a few words of text, with a very small tape stain thereat, opposite blank corner also gone, otherwise good to very good.