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Jun 13, 2014 - Jun 14, 2014
Lot of 17 items related to Orlando Hopkins Ross, comprised of 10 letters, 2 army documents, 1 newspaper, 2 photos, and 2 personal artifacts. Dating from May 1864 through August 1885. Notably, this archive contains signatures from T.S. Bowers, W.R. Rowley, Winfield Scott Hancock, and Horace Porter.
Orlando H. Ross was born on December 5, 1835, in Bethel, OH, which is 12 miles from Point Pleasant, the birthplace of Ulysses S. Grant. Ross and Grant were cousins. Ross survived the Civil War, living to age 56. He died October 13, 1892 in Washington, DC, and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
In 1861, Ross was the Post Office mail agent between Cairo and Paducah and was then given responsibility for military mail for the Army of the Tennessee. He enlisted October 1, 1862 as a 2nd Lieutenant and was commissioned into "D" Co, Illinois 20th Infantry on November 26, 1862. On March 11, 1863, he was discharged for promotion and commissioned into the US Volunteers as Captain and Aide de Camp on the Staff of General U.S. Grant. He served Grant through September 7, 1864. After the War, Ross worked in the Post Office and Treasury Departments. He was a member of the Grand Army and the Loyal Legion, occupying important positions in both organizations.
The archive includes:
Letters:
*ALS, May 4, 1864, from T.S. Bowers, Assistant Adjutant General, written on the eve of the Battle of the Wilderness: The army is preparing for a major battle; Thus far everything is quick but it is the silence that precedes and gives warning to the storm where thunders will soon break over our heads and where lightnings will flash from an angry sky.
*ALS, May 30, 1864 from T.S. Bowers, written on the eve of Cold Harbor. Bowers reflects on the ponderous weight of Grant’s Overland Campaign: For 26 days has this army marched and fought as no other army ever marched and fought and still the end is not yet!...our progress has been steady, decided and satisfactory. Whilst we have gained no signal triumph… Lee will not trust his Army in an open engagement but behind defenses it fights equal to any army in the world.
*ALS, June 14, 1864 from William R. Rowley, ADC and Provost Marshal General, writing from Charles City, VA, near Petersburg: We are now crossing the James River. We shall then get south of Richmond and commence the business of starving out by cutting supplies.
*ALS, June 24, 1864, from William R. Rowley during the siege of Petersburg: We had some work at Petersburg yesterday and rather got the worst of it losing four guns about one thousand men captured but we cannot expect to have it our own way all the time.
*ALS, June 27, 1864, from William R. Rowley during the siege of Petersburg: We are getting siege guns in position to bombard Petersburg and are sending Cavalry around to cut railroads and destroy communications. Petersburg is the key to Richmond and must be taken first.
*Draft of letter to President U.S. Grant signed by Ross. April 6, 1872, from Washington DC. Ross is offering his services in Grant’s re-election campaign:…still my desire to aid you is the same as in days of bloody triumph and whatever I may be able to accomplish in the coming campaign that will assist you in your re-election, shall be done as promptly and with the same kind feeling for your success.
*ALS, August 2, 1885 from Winfield Scott Hancock to Ross from Governor’s Island, NYC. The letter concerns arrangements for Grant’s funeral on August 8: General Sherman has sent to me your communication …of July 30th in which you express your desire…to attend the services of General Grant...Please report to [General Horace Porter] so that you may be properly placed…
*ALS, August 3, 1885 from General Horace Porter, in NYC, to Ross: An arrangement has been made with the assent of General Hancock to have General Grant’s staff ride in carriages next to the family on the day of the funeral.
*2 ALsS from Ross to his wife Belle, August 6 and 7, 1885 from the International Hotel, NYC. On August 6: The city is packed and will be jammed by tomorrow. On the 7:…you have never witnessed such a crush of people, over 250,000 have now passed by the remains.
Official Army Documents:
*Special Order No. 54 Headquarters, Department of the Tennessee Young’s Point, LA, February 25 1863. Provides that US Service steamboats furnish subsistence to Military mail Messengers at the rate of 50 cents per day.
*Receipt for three wall tents from Ross to Captain. H.W. James, Army of Vicksburg August 26, 1863.
The lot also includes: 2 albumen photographs, each with Mathew Brady’s Washington imprint on mount, the first a view of U.S. Grant with his horse, 2.75 x 4 in., the second a photograph of Grant’s three horses, ink inscribed on verso, 3 of Gen U.S. Grant’s horses. This photo of them given to Capt O.H. Ross by the General./ Mrs O. H. Ross, 3 x 3 in.; The National Republican, August 9, 1885, dedicated to the coverage of Grant’s funeral with a large picture of the General; Ross’ calling card from the Military Order of Loyal Legion; approx. 6 x 36 in. swatch of black chintz cloth, possibly acquired from Grant’s funeral procession although this cannot be confirmed.
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