Civil War 1st Maryland Veteran\'s Discharge, Signed By A Brevet Brigadier General For Sale

Civil War 1st Maryland Veteran’s Discharge – Signed By A Brevet Brigadier General.

The discharge for John W. Smith is dated 2 July, 1865, a private in the 1st Maryland infantry, who enlisted into Captain William Taylor’s Co. E, on 29 February, 1864. Smith had previous service in Purnell Legion Maryland Cavalry, which had consisted of cavalry, infantry and artillery. Smith may have had service with this later unit in Gettysburg. He originally was from Philadelphia.

The document is signed by the Colonel, David Leroy Stanton, a lawyer from Baltimore, who enlisted into Co.A. of the 1st Maryland on May 6, 1861 as a private, and climbed up through the ranks to brevet brigadier general by April of 1865. He became the colonel of the regiment in March of 1865. During the war Stanton, had been taken prisoner at Front Royal, Va, in May of 1862, exchanged at Aiken’s Landing, Va. in September of that year. He was wounded in the right foot in May of 1864 at Harris’ Farm, Va, and again in August of ’64 at Weldon Railroad, Va. Stanton went from private to 1st Sgt. and all officer grade ranks by war’s end.

Also signed by Capt. Richard Henry Pond, 12th U.S. Infantry, on staff of Gen. Romeyn Ayres, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps. He was Gettysburg, captured at the battle of Mine Run, Va. in November of 1863, held at Libby Prison, Richmond until exchanged in May of 1864. After the war, he continued serving in the Regular Army, resigning in 1873.

Like many of these documents, they were carried on person for some time by veterans, and this one is folded several times with some weakness in some areas of the folds, some holing at junctions of folds.

More information on Smith on the back of the discharge, giving more of his personal details.

Condition is well used, showing heavy wear, folds, tears, holes, creasing, discoloration due to use and time.\\

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