Civil War Auction
Lot 1166:
Description
A variety of official documents associated with General Grenville Mellen Dodge and Major Horace Parks, 43rd Ohio Infantry Volunteers regarding the promotion of Maj Parks regarding the railroad line. General Dodge was appointed by General Grant as commander of a Division in the Army of the Tennessee, where his troops aided Grant and William T. Sherman by “rapidly repairing and rebuilding the railroads, bridges, and telegraph lines destroyed by the Confederates,” and defeating or capturing the Confederate guerrillas, who had been ripping up the track and destroying railroad bridges, by employing techniques such as building two-story blockhouses near the bridges. These documents fall withing that time frame.
1) On South-Western Telegraph Company letterhead a message from Decatur to Athens on the 31st of unknown month1864. Sent to: Maj. H. Parks. The message reads: “ I have ten (10) or twelve (12) thousand feet lumber at mill the mill is now all right and running. J.C. Parrat Lt. Col Commanding” Dimensions: 5-3/4”x9-1/4”. Major Horace Park served in the 43rd Ohio Infantry Volunteers.
2) Blank 1860’s US Quartermaster form No. 34 “forage issued to public animals by ____” Dimensions 4”x8-1/4” folded.
3 Blank 1860s US Quartermaster form Inventory and Inspection Report of Unserviceable Ordinance Stores. Dimensions 3-1/2”x8-1/2” folded.
4) Small clipping: Head Quarters Left Wing 16th Army Corps. Pulaski, Tenn., March 6th, 1864 General Orders No.19. The general order relates to certificates of disability. Dimensions: 4-1/2” x5-1/2”.
5) Handwritten document: General Orders No. 75 from headquarters Left Wing 16th Army Corps Pulaski Tenn. November 27th 1863. It reads: I. Major Horace Park 43rd Ohio Infantry Volunteers is hereby detailed as Superintendent of repairs on the Nashville and Decatur railroad from Columbia South. II. The different working parties on the railroad will obey his instructions and call upon him for any and this may need. The commanders of Divisions, Brigades and Detachments will furnish him with details wherever he may need them. The A. D. M. and C. S. will furnish necessary supplies upon his order. III. This appointment does not interfere in any way with the organization of the different parties pioneer corps etc. But is for the purpose of having a general superintendent of all the work to whom all parties can apply for anything they need. By order of Brig. General G.M. Dodge. Barnes, Lieutenant A.A.A. Genls?”. Hard to decipher. Below that is written “Major Horace Park 43rd Reg Ohio Vols.” General Grenville Mellen Dodge was a Union Army officer on the frontier and a pioneering figure in military intelligence during the Civil War, who served as Ulysses S. Grant’s intelligence chief in the Western Theater. He served in several notable assignments, including command of the XVI Corps during the Atlanta Campaign.
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