DS as president, one page, 15 x 18.5, April 14, 1897. President McKinley appoints William S. Cassard to the position of Chaplain in the Navy. Signed at the bottom in black ink by McKinley and countersigned by Secretary of the Navy, John D. Long. Cassard served aboard the U.S.S. Indiana, built 1891-1895, which was the first state-of-the-art battleship of the new U.S. Navy. It played an important role in the blockade of Cuba and the battle off Santiago on July 3, 1898. Cassard, who was the ship’s chaplain, edited a book for the crew: Battleship Indiana and Her Part in the Spanish-American War. Worn, but mostly intact seal, McKinley’s signature a shade or two light and some scattered light soiling and wrinkling, otherwise fine condition. COA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
