ALS signed “M. Van Buren,” one lightly lined page both sides, 5 x 8, August 16, 1861. Van Buren writes to General James S. Wadsworth (born 1807), who was killed in battle during the Overland Campaign on May 8, 1864. In part: “The arrangement you propose is satisfactory to me and would have been still more so if you had put the extension at five years. Three may suffice to last my time, but such a result does not seem more certain than it would have done several years ago, & my wish is to have to do with nobody but yourself in respect to the matter at hand. Accept my earnest congratulation on the credit to which you entitled yourself in the Battle of Bulls [sic] Run, & the promotion which was so honorably earned.” Fought scarcely three weeks earlier, on July 21, the first Battle of Bull Run proved to be a demoralizing blow for the Union troops, who suffered nearly 3,000 casualties and were forced to retreat to Washington. Despite this defeat in the first major land battle of the war, a number of Union officers—Wadsworth among them—ably proved the effectiveness of their leadership in the heat of combat. In fine, clean condition, with minor brush to a few words, one faint fold touching signature, and subtle show-through. LOA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
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