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The Finest Civil War Recruiting Poster We Have Ev

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:3,500.00 USD Estimated At:5,000.00 - 7,500.00 USD
The Finest Civil War Recruiting Poster We Have Ev
<B>The Finest Civil War Recruiting Poster We Have Ever Handled</B></I> Large 24" x 38" poster with magnificent red, white and blue graphics, with more than a third of the area taken up by a scene of a Zouave dispatching a Confederate soldier with his sword in the heat of battle! The "Zouaves D'Afrique" was a famous Civil War unit whose distinguished history is well documented. Charles H. T. Collis came from a well-connected Philadelphia family, but nonetheless initially volunteered for the army as a private with the 18th Pennsylvania Regiment in 1861. He quickly distinguished himself and was promoted to Sgt. Major. Collis mustered out in August to set about forming an independent company, to be known as the Zouaves D'Afrique. The name was inspired by their distinctive, Moroccan-style uniforms, designed after those of the famous French Zouaves who originated in North Africa. The new unit was intended to be the personal bodyguard of General Nathaniel Banks, and it took only three days to fill the ranks. In addition to their colorful uniform, they were equipped with new Enfield rifles and enormous sword bayonets, and doubtless made quite a stir. The choice of uniforms may have been a blatant attempt to gain the favorable notice of General George McClellan, who had witnessed the French Zouves in action as an observer of the Crimean War, and who fell in love with their colorful uniforms. The 23 year old Collis apparently had boundless ambition: this poster is accompanied by the original letter written to Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Curtin on November 1, 1861 (less than three months after forming his unit), asking for Curtin's approval to seek further enlistments to increase his command to battalion strength, a proposal he states has the endorsement of General McClellan. On the same date he writes in another letter, included with this lot, to a Judge Read, Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and apparently a powerful patron and sponsor. He tells Read that General Banks has requested that he form this new unit, and repeats the claim made to Curtin that it was approved by McClellan. He asks Read to send a note in support of the idea to Curtin. Also included are a November 13 letter from Collis' mother thanking Read for his support of her son's request, and a November 8 letter from his father, William Collis, along similar lines (although apologizing for his son's rather pushy behavior, which he attributes to his "youth and inexperience"). Constituted as the 114th Pennsylvania Regiment, the Zouave unit founded by Collis distinguished itself throughout the war, seeing action at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Petersburg, and several other lesser battles and skirmishes. Charles Collis himself won the Congressional Medal of Honor for leading a "desperate charge" at Fredericksburg, and was promoted to the rank of Brevet Major General. The important history of the "Zouaves D'Afrique," along with the three fascinating and significant personal letters about the machinations by which the unit was formed, combine with the graphic quality of this recruiting poster to make it an item of the highest significance. The poster is in beautiful condition, with only the slightest roughness along the top edge. Three fine horizontal creases are original fold lines. A prize worthy of the most sophisticated Civil War collector. Lot:251