War Date Document Signed

Includes an autograph endorsement signed by General John C. Kelton

This is Special Orders No. 361 that was personally sent to General Alfred N.A. Duffie ordering him to report to General B.F. Kelley

Edward D. Townsend: (1817-93) Graduated #16 in the West Point class of 1837. He served in the Florida War and in the Adjutant General's Office, when on Mar. 7, 1861, he was named General Winfield Scott's chief of staff. He later served most of the Civil War as Assistant Adjutant General of the U.S. Army. Townsend was one of a select few who were chosen to accompany the body of the slain President Abraham Lincoln back to Springfield, Illinois for burial. It was General Townsend, and Admiral Charles H. Davis, who were photographed with the open coffin of Lincoln, the only known photo of Lincoln in death.

John C. Kelton: (1828-93) Graduated from West Point in the class of 1851. During the Civil War he served as 1st lieutenant, 6th U.S. Infantry; captain & a.a.g., on the staff of General Nathaniel Lyon; colonel, 9th Missouri Infantry; major & a.a.g., on the staff of General Henry W. Halleck; colonel & a.d.c., to General Henry W. Halleck; brevet brigadier general, March 13, 1865, for valuable and arduous service in the field and at headquarters. Remained in the U.S. Army, and retired in 1892 with rank of Brigadier General & Adjutant General.

Alfred N.A. Duffie: (1835-80) Born in Paris, he was the son of a French count. He graduated from the military college of St. Cyr in 1854 and won four decorations in the Crimea. Wounded in the battle of Solferino against the Austrians, he took leave of absence to come to the U.S. in 1859, where he met and married the daughter of a prominent Staten Island family. When the Civil War broke out he resigned his commission in the French army and offered his services to the U.S. On Aug. 2, 1861, he was commissioned captain of the 2nd N.Y. Cavalry and was promoted to major in October. In July 1862, he was appointed colonel of the 1st Rhode Island Cavalry which he led in the 2nd Bull Run campaign. In March 1863 his distinguished services at the battle of Kelly's Ford got the attention of General Joe Hooker who requested his promotion to brigadier general which was granted. He commanded a division of the Cavalry Corps under General Alfred Pleasanton during the Chancellorsville campaign and the early phases of the Gettysburg campaign. After this he was ordered to the Department of West Virginia and his subsequent service was in that department under Generals' Benjamin F. Kelley, Franz Sigel, David Hunter and George Crook. In October 1864, he was captured by Confederate partisans near Bunker Hill, Va., and was not paroled until the end of February 1865.

Head Quarters of the Army
Adjutant General's Office
Washington, August 14th, 1863

Special Orders,
No. 361

Extract. Brig. General A.N. Duffie, N.Y. Vols., will report in person without delay for duty to Brig. Gen. B.F. Kelley, U.S. Vols., Comdg. &c West Virginia.

By order of Major General Halleck
E.D. Townsend
Asst. Adjt. General

The Q.M. Dept. will furnish transportation for Genl. Duffie's horses agreeable to Genl. Order No. 171.

By order of
Maj. Genl. Halleck
J.C. Kelton
A.A.G.

H.Q.A.
Augt. 18, 1863

[to] Gen. Duffie
No. 25 4th St.
Washington, D.C.

The following endorsement is written in red ink at upper left: Asst. Q.M. Officer, Washington, Aug. 18, 1863. Transportation furnished to Wheeling, Va. for Genl. Duffie, 2 aids, 5 servants & 6 (six) Horses. Walter Curtis, Capt. & A.Q.M.

There is also an autograph endorsement signed, dated Aug. 17th, on the reverse of the document, by a Brig. Genl., regarding furnishing the necessary trains for Gen. Duffie & his aids. I'm not sure who this is. (see scan).

Light age toning and wear.

This document came from General Duffie's personal collection. Rare.