Here’s a Good-Content ALS by a Recipient of the Civil War Medal of Honor

HORATIO COLLINS KING

(1837 - 1918)

·       CIVIL WAR BVT COLONEL , USV,

·       RECIPIENT OF THE MEDAL OF HONOR  FOR VALOR IN ACTION AT FIVE FORKS, DINWIDDIE COURTHOUSE, VIRGINIA IN 1865,

·       POST-WAR JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL and BRIGADIER GENERAL OF THE NEW YORK NATIONAL GUARD,

·       SON OF HORATIO KING, US POSTMASTER GENERAL, APPOINTED BY PRESIDENT BUCHANAN IN 1861, and

·       SECRETARY OF THE SOCIETY OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, and HONORED MEMBER OF THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE LOYAL LEGION OF THE UNITED STATES (MOLLUS).

Col. King is buried in Brooklyn’s historic Green-Wood Cemetery.

THIS ALS IS SIGNED BY KING ON HIS PERSONAL “TEMPLE BAR, 44 COURT STREET, BROOKLYN, N. Y. CITY” LETTERHEAD, 3pp., DATED DEC. 23^rd, 1914

 The Letter is Written to His Old Friend and Comrade-in-Arms

REV. COL. EDWARD ANDERSON

(1833 - 1916)

·       COLONEL  and COMMANDER OF THE 12^th INDIANA INFANTRY, WHO FIRST ENTERED THE WAR AS A CHAPLAIN -- ONE OF THE FEW “FIGHTING PARSONS” OF THE CIVIL WAR.

THE LETTER IS ADDRESSED TO COLONEL EDWARD ANDERSON AT QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS [ANDERSON RESIDED SPECIFICALLY AT “PRESIDENT’S HILL” AT THIS TIME]. KING WRITES TO HIS OLD COMRADE ABOUT SEVERAL TOPICS INCLUDING:

·        HIS AGE: “…Yesterday my calendar struck Seventy-Seven.  If one seven is lucky, two sevens should be doubly so…that I lived to take part in the dedication of the Beecher Memorial buildings*,

·        DEATH OF PLYMOUTH PASTOR: “…Sam Schofield was Asst Pastor of Plymouth [Church]…died of cancer of the stomach…”

·        WWI GERMAN AGGRESSION: “Dr. Hillis has been giving his views against German aristocracy & militarism.  The ___ Germans don’t like it, but public opinion is against them and must come out.  Plymouth never has been silent on civic affairs…” and

·        Wishing Anderson a Merry Christmas and joyous new year, “…and may you see many more…”

* Historical Note: This is a reference to The Beecher Mausoleum (1913–1914) located in Beecher, Illinois (Will County)

• Significance: It is recognized as a rare, exceptionally early example of a "community mausoleum" built in a small, rural village rather than a major metropolitan city.
• Timeline: Construction began in June 1913 by the International Mausoleum Company. It was formally registered in March 1914 and dedicated on June 14, 1914, drawing a crowd of over 500 citizens.
• Architecture: Designed in the Neoclassical style by the renowned Chicago architect and engineer Cecil E. Bryan, who previously worked under Frank Lloyd Wright. It was built using reinforced concrete with a Bedford limestone veneer and featured a brilliant white marble interior.
• Historical Status: The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013 after community preservation efforts saved it from extreme abandonment and vandalism.

BIOGRAPHY OF HORATIO COLLINS KING

Horatio Collins King (December 22, 1837 – November 15, 1918) was a Union Army Brevet Colonel who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the American Civil War. He also served as a U.S. lawyer, politician and author.

Biography

Born in Portland, Maine, King graduated at Dickinson College in 1858, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in New York City in 1861. He served in the armies of the Potomac and Shenandoah during the Civil War from August 1862 until May 1865, when he resigned with the rank of brevet Colonel. King earned the Medal of Honor for service near Dinwiddie Courthouse, Virginia, on March 31, 1865.

King then practiced law until 1870, when he became connected with the press. He was the author of The Plymouth Silver Wedding (New York, 1873); The Brooklyn Congregational Council (1876); King's Guide to Regimental Courts-Martial (1882); and edited Proceedings of the Army of the Potomac (1879–'87).

In 1883, King was appointed judge-advocate-general of New York.

At a time during which anti-Chinese views were common, King was socially friendly with the Chinese minister in Washington, D.C., and the Chinese consul in New York. In 1893, when the anti-Chinese Geary Act was ruled constitutional, he protested the law saying that "from the prejudice manifested against the Chinese, it seems they have no rights here that Americans are bound to respect."

In 1895, he ran on the Democratic ticket for Secretary of State of New York, but was defeated by Republican John Palmer.

In 1912, he ran on the Progressive ticket for New York State Comptroller, but was defeated by Democrat William Sohmer.

King was a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States and the Sons of the American Revolution. King was the Secretary of the Society of the Army of the Potomac.

His father, Horatio King, was Postmaster General of the United States.

MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION

Horatio King

Five Forks, VA

03/31/65

While serving as a volunteer aide, carried orders to the reserve brigade and participated with it in the charge which repulsed the enemy.

ATTRACTED GENERAL CUSTER'S ATTENTION

ON THE battle 31st of March, 1865, Sheridan's Cavalry Corps 

developed two divisions of Confederate infantry and one of 

cavalry near Five Forks, Va., and Major Horatio King, chief 

quartermaster of the first division, feeling that he could safely 

leave his train in charge of the senior brigade quartermaster, 

tendered his services to General Devin as a volunteer aide on his 

staff and was granted permission to accompany him.  Owing to the 

wooded character of the country the cavalry fought dismounted.  

The ground was stubbornly contested until about four P. M., when 

a report was brought from the Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry that 

the Federal line was driven back.  At this time Major King was 

the only staff officer remaining with General Devin, commanding 

the division, and he was requested to hunt up the reserve brigade 

under General Gibbs and hurry them to the aid of the Second 

Brigade.  The reserve was somewhere on the extreme left of the 

line, so, following the direction of the firing with all possible 

speed for about three-quarters of a mile, the major found General 

Gibbs, delivered his orders, and proceeded with him at once to 

the critical position where the brigade was deployed.  They 

arrived just in time to repel a charge of the Confederate 

infantry and save the line from serious disaster, Major King 

accompanying General Gibbs and participating in the charge.

The fighting continued until dark, when, finding that the troops 

he had were unequal to the task of dislodging the Confederates 

from their strong works, General Devin withdrew his forces to the 

neighborhood of Dinwiddie Court House.  On the following day, in 

consequence of the imminent danger of the train, General Sheridan 

directed Major King to return and resume charge. 

Source:  Deeds of Valor, p. 511 

This document measures 5” x 8” and is in excellent condition.

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