Raynors HCA 2016-10
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/21/2016
This is a very historically significant letter is written and signed by Lieut. Frank M. Metcalf who on 8/2/1862 mustered in the C Co. NY 117th Infantry and transferred 7/18/1863 into the Signal Corps. Metcalf developed the Improved Cipher Disc. The 8pp. letter is datelined Signal Station City Point, Virginia, July 22, 1864 and comes with the original cover. In part, “Here I still am with six fellows doing my part of watching for flagging messages etc. of which we have considerable to do here. Some of them apparently of an important nature. We are the only means of communication between this Pt. and Gen. Sheridan’s Hd. Qrs. except to travel the whole distance, six or eight miles. ... They are just taking and deciphering a message upstairs. We have now an officer, Lt. Keozinski of Poland, formerly, and one of three or four Russian and Polish Signal Officers which we have in this dept. One Captain, a banished Russian, left here this morning for Washington whither he goes for some purpose best known to himself, probably enough to resign, as if commissioning him in the Corps. ... He is only to be a first Lieutenant like many another officers, who being detailed from regiments and made signal officers are reduced in rank by the operation much to their chagrin, I presume, but after much to their nemesis delight who like to see some of the arrogant tyrants humbled. ...”
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.