1862 Official Envelope That Held Major General John E. Wool’s Commission.- SOLD

Description

1862 official envelope for Head-Quarters, Department of the East, that held Major General John E. Wool’s commission.  Written on the envelope, during the Civil War era, a note as to the contents once contained therein, “Commission of Major General Wool May 1862 for Gallant and distinguished service in capturing the City of Norfolk and it many Forts & batteries, and causing the distruction of the Monitor Steam ship Merrimac.”

John Ellis Wool, (1784 – 1869) was a career army officer who saw service in the War of 1812, Mexican & Civil Wars. At age 77, Wool was the oldest officer on either side in the war, having been a brigadier general for 20 years, commanding the Dept. of the East. General Wool had a long and distinguished career, and his history is to lengthy to include here. The engagement as commander of the The Virginia Department (U.S. Army), in driving the confederates from several fortifications, and the capture of the Gosport Naval Yard, and the destroying the the infamous CSS Virginia or Merrimac, are worthy of reading.

His troops contributed mightily to the ending the New York City draft riots.  He retired to Troy, New York, after several attempts to stay on active duty despite his age, and died there in November of 1869.

The envelope has some soiling, but is an original document, citing the actions that earned him a commission to the full army rank of Major General.

Where is the commission.