William McKinley LS Re: Disciplinary Action At D.C. Camp Stoneman 3 Weeks After Civil War's End

William McKinley
Camp Stoneman, Washington, DC, June 1, 1865

William McKinley LS Re: Disciplinary Action At D.C. Camp Stoneman 3 Weeks After Civil War's End
LS

A 1p letter signed by William McKinley (1843-1901), future 25th U.S. President, then in his capacity as Captain and Acting Assistant Adjutant General, as "Wm McKinley Jr" at lower right (McKinley signed as "McKinley Jr." until the death of his father, William McKinley, Sr., in 1892.) June 1, 1865. Camp Stoneman, Washington, D.C. Secretarially inscribed on laid stationery with partially printed "Head-Quarters, First Division First Army Corps, / Camp Stoneman, D.C." letterhead. Co-signed/docketed by three individuals verso, showing the progress of the communication through the chain of command. Expected wear including flattened transmittal folds, with evidence of isolated professional restoration. Pink damp-staining and discoloration along these folds recto and verso not affecting any text, which is slightly faded but still legible. Else very good. 7.75" x 9.75". Comes with the former collector's research printouts. From The Doug Wertman Collection.

In this memorandum, McKinley informs the Commanding Officer of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division that a disciplinary action against a soldier has been resolved. One Private H. St. Adriance, of Company F, 8th Regiment, U.S. Retired Volunteers, had recently been arrested as a deserter because he had returned two days after his leave had ended. McKinley explains that Adriance "having furnished satisfactory evidence that his absence was unavoidable, will be released from arrest + returned to duty…" The letter is interesting because it deals with the question of desertion at a critical time period just three weeks after Confederate General Robert E. Lee had surrendered at Appomattox Court House on April 9th. At this particular juncture, the impulse to return home must have been extraordinarily strong. Happily for Private Adriance, though, it was revealed that he wasn't absconding, and he dutifully returned to service when he was able to.

William McKinley had enlisted as a private in the 23rd Ohio Infantry Regiment in June 1861. By the end of the Civil War, he had been promoted to captain, commissioned as a brevet major, and, in early June 1865, he was currently serving as the Acting Assistant Adjutant General under his commanding officer, Union General Samuel S. Carroll (1832-1893). McKinley and the other Union troops stationed at Camp Stoneman were biding their time until being mustered out. Camp Stoneman was a centrally located depot and hospital network reserved for cavalry of the Army of the Potomac. McKinley was discharged from active service on July 26, 1865 - more than four full years after enlisting - with other soldiers and officers from General Winfield S. Hancock's Army of the Shenandoah.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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