AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT HISTORY OF COMPANY F, 1ST NEW YORK INFANTRY, SIGNED BY COMPANY COMMANDER 2ND LIEUTENANT JOHN S. BRUSH.
[Virginia: 1864]. Folio, 8" x 12". Three loose leaves making [6] pp, completely in ink manuscript. Occasional short separations at folds, light age toning and soiling, some edge wear with slight loss of text. Overall, Good+.
The 1st New York Infantry Regiment was mustered for two years of service in April 1861. After serving at Big Bethel, Fair Oaks, Malvern Hill, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville, they were duly mustered out in May 1863. This history by 2nd Lieutenant John S. Brush details the organization of the company and its movements. The Company arrived at Big Bethel on the morning of June 10th [1861], formed a line of battle, remained under the enemy's fire for nearly two hours before being ordered to retreat. They moved on to Newport News where the Rebel Iron Clad Merrimac shelled the garrison for two hours before retiring; no casualties were reported. Onward to join the Army of the Potomac, and to the White House [plantation] on the Pamunkey River, on June 4 [1862]. Then to Savage Station, then joining the battle at Peach Orchard where Privates Carlisle Ferris, Patrick Culhane & Edward Corcoran were killed, and Privates William Rodgers, Frank Cox, & Thos. Hillman were wounded. Later at Glendale, "Captain John H. Carter was dangerously wounded while gallantly rallying his men to the contest" and was taken prisoner, while Sergeant Joseph E. Fallon "seeing the colors falling into the hands of the rebels rushed forward under a heavy fire from the enemy and secured two of them." Other battles and casualties are mentioned, followed by a list of soldiers who were killed, transferred, discharged, deserted, etc. With a Recapitulation signed and dated by John S. Brush at Potomac Creek, Virginia, 4 April 1863.
John S. Brush [born c. 1840] was mustered into the New York Infantry in 1861 a 1st Corporal and was mustered out a 2d Lieutenant. Brush had an interesting life following the war. 1880 Federal census records list him as a resident of Sing Sing Prison. Unfortunately, this Civil War veteran went into the forgery business. By 1903 he had spent more than 20 years in Illinois and New York State prisons because of his "expertness in 'free hand' imitation of signatures and handwriting" versus the more common tracing method, making him "one of the most dangerous professional forgers operating in this country." He was so good that those he had imitated at times would identify his forgeries as their own signatures. In 1903 Brush pleaded guilty yet again to forgery and was sentenced to another five years imprisonment at Dannemora prison. By the 1910 U.S. Federal Census, he was living at the National Soldiers' Home in Tennessee. [PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTY-NINTH ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE AMERICAN BANKERS' ASSOCIATION. . . 1903. pp. 127-129.]. Item #36746
Price: $750.00