1880-90s GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC [GAR] ARCHIVE OF LETTERS AND HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPTS WITH MULTIPLE AUTOGRAPHS INCLUDING TWO CIVIL WAR MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS

Important archive of post Civil War GAR letters of the Chicago Mercantile Battery Light Infantry , Chicago, Illinois including two Medals of Honor winner's autographs [Kretsinger and Stevens]. This archive comes from the Dick Ransom estate from his former Civil War comrades specific to the GAR activities for the "Battery Boys." 1) Letter written on behalf of battery mate Dick Ransom by Gardner Willard and signed by 8 additional Chicago Mercantile Battery boys. Two of these signatures belong to Medal of Honor winners William Stevens and George Kretsinger. Other signatures include David Crego, Orin Nash, W. Brown, Richard Powel, Florus D. Meachem. Dated 1891. 2). Hand written letter in support of Dick Ransom and signed by battery mate J. H. Swan. 1891. 3). Dec. 15th 1890 carbon-type copy of a letter Ransom had sent to fellow battery comrade, George Kretsinger. 4). great personal letter, from fellow Battery comrade, Henry C. Gray .single page, ink, dated Feb. 13 ,1888. 5). Wonderful period civil war letter from Battery Comrad to Ransom from Gardner G. Willard, single sheet and dated during the civil war, April 18th, 1863. 6) wonderful 4 page letter from former Battery mate Chapin. Letter in ink, dated Jan. 1876, being sent to Dick Ransom sharing Chapin's heart felt concern over the recent loss of Ransom's wife. 7). typed letter by Battery Mate James H. Swan in support of Dick Ransom. BIO NOTES: Dick Ransom; Residence Chicago IL; Enlisted on 8/7/1862 as a Private. On 8/29/1862 he mustered into Illinois Chicago Mercantile Light Artillery. He was discharged for disability on 3/24/1863. David R. Crego; First Lieutenant 8/29/62 through 2/6/63. Orrin Nash: 8/29/1862 through 7/10/65. William L. Brown : 8/29/1862 through 7/10/65. Richard Powel; On 10/5/1863 he mustered into IL Chicago Merc He was discharged for disability on 6/17/1864. Florrus D. Meachem; Served 8/29/1862 through 7/10/65. James H. Swan; Enlisted on 8/29/1862 as a 1st Lieutenant. George Kretsinger; Entered service at: Chicago, Ill. Birth: Herkimer County, N.Y. Date of issue: 20 July 1897. Citation: Carried with others, by hand, a cannon up to and fired it through an embrasure of the enemy's works. Medal of Honor Winner. Henry C. Gray; Enlisted on 8/15/1862 as a Private. Gardner G. Williard; Enlisted on 8/5/1862 as a Private. James H. Swan; Enlisted on 8/29/1862 as a 1st Lieutenant. Generally very good+ though a stain has affected a few items none touching signatures.; Manuscript; 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF, HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, WRITERS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, PERSONAL HISTORY, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, DIARY, JOURNAL, DIARIES, JOURNALS, LOG, LOGS, KEEPSAKE, AMERICANA, Civil War, War Between the States, VICKSBURG, MANASSASS, BULL RUN, LINCOLN, ILLINOIS, MERCHANTILE ILLINOIS INFANTRY, GAR, GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC, VETERANS,