This book and letter relate to the Soldiers’ Orphan Schools in the state established after the Civil War, and the letter was sent to Gen. Crawford requesting his presence in the Hall at the House of Representatives, Harrisburg, March 1866.
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Book – Penn. Soldiers’ Orphan Schools, with Letter to MGen. Samuel Crawford.
The book; PENNSYLVANIA’S SOLDIERS’ ORPHAN SCHOOLS Giving A Brief Account of the Origin of the Late Civil War, The Rise and Progress of the Orphan System, And Legislative Enactments Relating Thereto; with Brief Sketches And Engravings of the Several Institutions With Names of Pupils Subjoined. by James Laughery Paul, Illustrated by Frederick Faas. 3rd Edition, Harrisburg: Lane S. Hart, 1877. Blue cloth with gilt illustrations, 520 pages, illutsrated.
A name plate on inner cover, “Compliments of Geo. H. Ettla, House of Representatives.”
[George H. Ettla, a Representative from Lancaster County, born, October 15, 1831 in Hummelstown, Dauphin County, Pa.; captain, Comp any B, 215th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry (1865, Civil War); deputy collector, Union Canal Company; engaged, lumber and insurance business; engaged in insurance business; elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives as a Republican to serve the 1875, 1876, 1877 and 1878 terms; not a candidate for reelection to the House for the 1879 term; postmaster, United States Postal Service, Marietta, Pa. (1883-1885); died, October 27, 1900 in Marietta, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; interred, Marietta Cemetery, Marietta, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.]
Wear one corners, upper and lower spine, general use, slight separation at title page, otherwise tight. I have photographed all of the contents, as there is too much to cover here.
Included is a letter written by James P. Kelly.
[James P. Kelly, born: March 1, 1839, County Antrim, Ireland. Died: August 9, 1871, Washington, Washington County, PA. Member of the House: Washington County, 1864; Beaver and Washington Counties, 1865-1866. Affiliation: Union Republican.
In 1861 Kelley enlisted as a private in Company H of the 31st Ohio Volunteers. He left military service due to illness in 1863, and continued to serve the Union cause as a writer and columnist in Pennsylvania newspapers. It was through his journalistic endeavors that Kelley gained a political following and was elected to the Pennsylvania House to represent Washington County for the 1864 session, followed by re-election to represent both Washington and Beaver Counties for the 1865 and 1866 sessions.
Kelley was elected Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 1866 session on January 4, 1866. While Kelley was Speaker, the legislature commissioned the famed painting The Battle of Gettysburg, by Peter Frederick Rothermel, commemorating the Civil War battle. Costing $25,000, the painting, which measures 16 x 32 feet, is now displayed at the State Museum of Pennsylvania.
Upon leaving the Pennsylvania House, Kelley operated his personal farm and co-owned and edited the Washington Reporter. Kelley also maintained his interest in state politics, serving as a delegate to the Republican State Conventions of 1869 and 1871. Kelley died on August 9, 1871, at his home in the city of Washington, Pennsylvania, at just 32 years old.]
The letter is written on the Speaker’s letterhead, dated Harrisburg, Mar. 14, 1866. Addressed to Major General Samuel L. Crawford, inviting him to be present at the meeting of the Schools for Orphan Children. “It would be a great pleasure to the people of Penna. and their Representatives if you can, consistently with your public duties, be present upon that interesting occasion.” The docket reads, ” invitation from Legislature of Pa” is mostly like in Crawford’s hand.
Samuel Wylie Crawford, (1829 – 1892) U.S. Army Surgeon, and Union general in the Civil War. He served at Fort Sumter, SC. during the bombardment of Confederate forces at Charleston, SC in April of 1861. He transferred from surgeon to leading troops, and commanded a brigade early in the war at Cedar Mountain. During he Battle of Antietam he was wounded and returned for th Battle of Gettysburg, where Crawford was seriously wounded again, while driving the enemy from the “Valley of Death” below Little Round Top.
General Crawford was present at the surrender of Confederate forces under Robert E. Lee, at Appomattox Court House in April of 1865, being on of the few officers present at both the beginning and ending of the war.
The preservation of the Battlefield at Gettysburg is due largely to his efforts.
A nice historical reference in both book and letter in regards to Pennsylvania veterans of the Civil War, and their orphaned children.
Additional information
| Weight | 2 lbs |
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