Details
LINCOLN, ABRAHAM, President. Engraved document signed in full as President, countersigned by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, Washington, D.C., 6 February 1862. One page, large folio, ON FINE PARCHMENT, accomplished in manuscript, light blue paper seal of the United States at upper left, finely engraved with bold heading "The President of the United States," beneath which is an engraved vignette of an American eagle and the "E Pluribus Unum" motto, at the bottom of the sheet is a large vignette of crossed flags, cannons and other military paraphenalia at bottom, with small legend, "Engraved by J. V. .N. and C. H. Throop, Washn. City," central crease, a tiny hole at fold, appointing John M. Brannon a Brigadier General of Volunteers.
LINCOLN'S COMMISSION FOR GENERAL BRANNON, A HERO OF THE BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA
John Milton Brannon (1819-1892), born in Washington, served as a messenger in the House of Representatives in 1837, and when he was recommended by an Indiana representative for a West Point appointment, 114 other Congressmen signed the recommendation. He served with distinction in the artillery during the war with Mexico, in which he was wounded, and was brevetted a captain for gallantry in the battles of Contreras and Churubusco. Appointed brigadier general of volunteers on 28 September l861 (the rank confirmed by the present document), he commanded the District of Key West, then the Beaufort District, led the St. John's River expedition and fought at Pocotaligo in October 1862. For his fine record Brannon was transferred to command an infantry division in the Army of the Cumberland (in April 1863) under General W.S. Rosecrans. In that command he participated in the Tullahoma Campaign and in the nearly disastrous Battle of Chickamauga. On the second day of the latter battle, Brannon and his men, under command of General George Henry Thomas, "the Rock of Chickamauga," held the last Union position on the field, Horseshoe Ridge, suffering 38 casualties. He was brevetted for gallant service and given a new command as Chief of artillery for the Army of the Cumberland. In that capacity he was present at the battle of Missionary Ridge and all the battles of the Atlanta campaign (Dalton, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochee, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta and Jonesboro). Brannon, brevetted Major General in both volunteer and regular army at the end of the war, continued in military service until 1882.
LINCOLN'S COMMISSION FOR GENERAL BRANNON, A HERO OF THE BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA
John Milton Brannon (1819-1892), born in Washington, served as a messenger in the House of Representatives in 1837, and when he was recommended by an Indiana representative for a West Point appointment, 114 other Congressmen signed the recommendation. He served with distinction in the artillery during the war with Mexico, in which he was wounded, and was brevetted a captain for gallantry in the battles of Contreras and Churubusco. Appointed brigadier general of volunteers on 28 September l861 (the rank confirmed by the present document), he commanded the District of Key West, then the Beaufort District, led the St. John's River expedition and fought at Pocotaligo in October 1862. For his fine record Brannon was transferred to command an infantry division in the Army of the Cumberland (in April 1863) under General W.S. Rosecrans. In that command he participated in the Tullahoma Campaign and in the nearly disastrous Battle of Chickamauga. On the second day of the latter battle, Brannon and his men, under command of General George Henry Thomas, "the Rock of Chickamauga," held the last Union position on the field, Horseshoe Ridge, suffering 38 casualties. He was brevetted for gallant service and given a new command as Chief of artillery for the Army of the Cumberland. In that capacity he was present at the battle of Missionary Ridge and all the battles of the Atlanta campaign (Dalton, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochee, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta and Jonesboro). Brannon, brevetted Major General in both volunteer and regular army at the end of the war, continued in military service until 1882.