Raynors HCA 2016-10
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/21/2016
Group of original documents relating to the military career of DR. LUCIUS O'BRIEN, Army Surgeon, and recognized as one of the authors of the West Point song "'Benny Havens, Oh!" Group includes (1) Document on vellum, COMMISSION TO LUCIUS O'BRIEN AS ASSISTANT SURGEON, US ARMY, June 1, 1834, signed by PRESIDENT ANDREW JACKSON (signature damaged), also signed by LEWIS CASS, SECRETARY OF WAR, and by COLONEL ROGER JONES, ADJUTANT GENERAL. Sadly, water damage to right hand side of document affecting some text and Jackson's signature. (2) Letter from Adjutant General's Office, Washington, June 4, 1835 transmitting O'Brien's commission as Assistant Surgeon. Signed by COLONEL ROGER JONES, ADJUTANT GENERAL. (3) Partial letter from the Office of the Surgeon General, US Army, Washington, ND (1835) advising O'Brien that he "…will be entitled to promotion agreeably to your present rank as vacancies may occur in the medical staff…." With integral address leaf and postmark "Washington City, Oct 27." Signed by JOSEPH NOVELL, SURGEON GENERAL OF THE US ARMY. (Letter damaged and missing section at top but has been professionally stabilized). (4) Letter from the War Department, Washington, September 5, 1837, announcing O'Brien's appointment as 2nd Lieutenant, 3rd Infantry. Signed by JOEL POINSETT, SECRETARY OF WAR. (5) Document on vellum, COMMISSION TO LUCIUS O'BRIEN AS SECOND LIEUTENANT IN THE 3RD REGIMENT OF INFANTRY, November 1, 1837, signed by PRESIDENT MARTIN VAN BUREN (signature damaged), also signed by JOEL POINSETT, SECRETARY OF WAR, and by COLONEL ROGER JONES, ADJUTANT GENERAL. Water damage to right hand side of document affecting some text and Van Buren's signature. (6) Document on vellum, COMMISSION TO LUCIUS O'BRIEN AS FIRST LIEUTENANT IN THE 8TH REGIMENT OF INFANTRY, February 20, 1840, signed by PRESIDENT MARTIN VAN BUREN (signature damaged), also signed by JOEL POINSETT, SECRETARY OF WAR, and by COLONEL ROGER JONES, ADJUTANT GENERAL. Water damage to right hand side of document affecting some text and Van Buren's signature. (7) Letter from Adjutant General's Office, Washington, April 20, 1840, transmitting O'Brien's commission as First Lieutenant, 8th Infantry. Signed by COLONEL ROGER JONES, ADJUTANT GENERAL. (8) Letter from the War Department, November 19, 1840, advising O'Brien of his appointment as Assistant Commissary of Subsistence at Fort King, Florida. Signed by JOEL POINSETT, SECRETARY OF WAR. Damaged items noted, others in fine condition. LUCIUS FRANCIS XAVIER O'BRIEN (1804-1841) was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and entered the Army as Assistant Surgeon in 1832, serving until 1835. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd Infantry in 1837 and transferred to the 8th Infantry in 1838 and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on December 1, 1839. He served as assistant Surgeon at Fort Pike, Louisiana, and Fort Towson (later Indian Territory). He later served at several posts in Florida with the 3rd and 8th Infantry in the Seminole War. He died at Fort Brooke, near Tampa, on January 7, 1841. While at Fort Towson, O'Brien wrote his paper "On the Anti-Ptyalismal Virtues of Iodine" which was published in the "Register and Library of Medical and Chirurgical Science," December 1834. O'Brien is probably best remembered for being one of the authors of the West Point Corps of Cadets song "BENNY HAVENS, OH!" written during O'Brien's visit to West Point to see his friend Ripley A. Arnold. Benny Havens was a contraband seller of liquors to the Cadets, who was expelled from the immediate vicinity of the "Point." He then opened a regular tavern a mile or two below, and was visited by cadets including Ripley & O'Brien. JOEL ROBERTS POINSETT (1779 -1851) was a member of the United States House of Representatives, the first United States Minister to Mexico and Secretary of War 1837-1841.
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