War Date Autograph Letter Signed

(1818-91) Commissioned 2nd lieutenant in the 4th Artillery, he was awarded the brevets of 1st lieutenant and captain for gallantry at Contreras, Churubusco and Chapultepec in the Mexican War. At the outbreak of the Civil War he was a full rank captain in the regular army and was highly commended by General McClellan during the 1862 Virginia Peninsular campaign for his conduct at Malvern Hill winning the brevets of major and lieutenant colonel. He commanded the guns of General A.E. Burnside's army on the left at Fredericksburg and he was commissioned brigadier general to rank from May 23, 1863. He later commanded the defenses of Washington south of the Potomac.

War Date Autograph Letter Signed: 5 x 8, in ink, written on imprinted letter sheet. Headquarters Defences South of the Potomac, Arlington, [Virginia], Nov. 20th, 1863. Major: By some singular detention your note of the 17th & its enclosure were handed me only this afternoon. Captain Stipp is associated, in my mind, with one of the most gallant spirits of this war on whose staff he was ever prominent. I comply with pleasure with the Captain's wish in the matter of autograph & hope that I may be called upon to assist his pleasure or ambition in some important manner. With Respect & Sincerity, Yr. obedt. Servt., G.A. De Russy, Brig. Genl. [to] Granville E. Johnson, Maj. & A.D.C., Washington. Excellent.

On the third page of this folio letter sheet is written a note by G.E. Johnson as follows: Dear K, Thinking the affixed might be agreeable to you coming as it does from a noble soldier, I forward it with the two enclosed cartes. [carte de visite photograph commonly referred to as cdv's]. With love to Charly and all the friends in your neighborhood, I remain as ever, Sincerely Yours, G.E. Johnson, Maj. & A.D.C.

Granville E. Johnson, enlisted on August 20, 1862, as a captain, and was commissioned into the U.S. Volunteers as Aide-de-Camp. He was promoted to major on August 24, 1863, and was mustered out of the service on September 14, 1864.