Civil War Recruiting Broadside- 14th U.S. Regulars

Description

This broadside printed sometime in June of 1863, offered a $402.00 Bounty for all enlisted men who signed on the dotted line, and gave their oaths of allegiance “within (90) ninety days from June 25th, 1863.” The broadside states premium, advance pay and bounties to be paid in various installments over a certain amount of time of enlistment.

Printed below are the requirements of age, height, character for all able-bodied men, and the amount of pay for the grade of ranks from sergeant major down to  privates.

The printed name of the regimental recruiting officer was H. W. Keyes, Capt. 14th U.S. Infantry, who was later replaced (and his name written above Keyes’s name) by Lt. James Henton.

There is some manuscript notations made above and below the main heading; “United States Regulars / $400. Bounty / 14th Regular Infantry.”  Were it reads ninety days from June 25th, above in manuscript, “premiums to the 1st December.”   “Premium, Advance Pay and” are crossed out, and a correction of the bounty amount (of $402) corrected to “$400.”    There was an increase made in ink as to the number of need recruits, from the printed “200” to crossing out of the 2 and writing in a “3.”

Size is 12 1/2 x 18 1/4 inches.

There was some water staining on the piece, and was professionally conserved, now most suitable for framing.

 

Hamlin Wales Keyes was initially a major in the 5th Massachusetts Infantry from May 1, 1861.  He was commissioned a captain in the 14th U.S. Infantry on 14 May, 18, 1861 and breveted major in May of 1864 for gallant and meritorious service in the Battle of the Wilderness, Va.  He was mortally wounded at the Battle of Spottsylvania on May 12, 1864. Captain Keyes was shot just above the heart, and according to the unit history, he was later transported by Ambulance to a field hospital. He had whispered to another wounded officer that “he wished to be remembered as a good Templar.”  He whispered again to another officer, “Tell him I have just been married. I know I cannot live, but I must see her again before I die.”  He was able to see his young bride one last time, but she was soon to be a widow.

James Henton, born in England, entered the Army as a private, corporal, sergeant and 1st sergeant of Company “D” 6th U.S. Infantry on 22 November, 1853 to 22 November, 1858.  He re-enlisted as a private and then later became the 1st Sergeant of Company “A” 14th U.S. Infantry, from 14 May, 1860 to 25 October, 1861.  Commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in October of 1861, then 1st lieutenant on 19 February, 1862; Captain in November of 1865.  Henton received a brevet captain’s commission in March of 1865 for gallant and meritorious service in the Battle of Gettysburg, Pa.  He remained in the regular Army after the war in the 23rd Infantry (1866), and was promoted to major in 1891, lt. col. in 1894.  He died in 1895.

 

Regular Army broadsides from the Civil War era are quite scarce. Then again, most regular Army material from the 19th Century is relatively scarce.