[CIVIL WAR]. PARKE, John G. (1827-1900) and FERRARO, Edward (1831-1899). Hand-drawn testimonial presented to Major William F. Draper, 36th Massachusetts Infantry, signed by Generals Parke and Ferrero. East Tennessee, 8 March 1864.

11 x 16 in. (sight) hand-drawn testimonial, housed in 23 x 27 1/2 in. frame (scratches and wear to frame, light soil to mat and testimonial, testimonial with dampstaining at center right, unexamined outside frame). Testimonial decorated at top with patriotic motifs over which runs the bold text "Headquarters, 1st Division, 9th A.C." followed by what appears to be an artist's hand-drawn reproduction of a letter of recommendation on behalf of Draper. The body of the "letter" commences "Camp Near Mossy Creek / East Tenn., March 8th 1864" / "To His Excellency John A. Andrew, Gov. of the State of Mass." It continues with a recommendation from Brigadier General Edward Ferrero, endorsing Draper for promotion describing the "able manner with which he has led his Regiment, and the discipline of the same, [which] entitles him to great praise." This endorsement is signed by Ferrero ("Edwd Ferrero") as Brigadier General US Volunteers. Below this appears a second endorsement, dated 9 March 1864, in which General John Grubb Parke (1827-1900) concurs "with Gen Ferrero in his estimate of Maj. Draper's efficiency and worth...." This is signed by General Parke ("John G. Parke") as Maj. Gen. Commanding. Complementing the handwritten text is a drawing of a Union camp artfully rendered on the mat in the bottom right corner. The camp scene features a cluster of tents, an American flag, and soldiers around a fire.

Bvt. Major General Edward Ferrero (1831-1899) was both a decorated officer who served in multiple theaters of war, and an officer tainted by his questionable conduct during the Crater disaster. Gen. John Parke was a US Army engineer who served among other roles as Chief of Staff to Ambrose E. Burnside and also held significant field commands. After the war Parke served as superintendent of the United States Military Academy. The subject of their recommendation was William Franklin Draper (1842-1910) of Milford, MA, who enlisted on 9/9/1861 as a private and mustered into Co. B MA 25th Infantry. Draper served a three-year enlistment, rising steadily through the ranks of the 25th and later the MA 36th Infantry to become Brigadier General by Brevet on 3/13/1865 for "gallant and meritorious service." Draper was wounded at Wilderness on 5/6/1864 and mustered out five months later on 10/12/1864.

A Harvard graduate with mechanical expertise, Draper was equally impressive on the battlefield. Both the 25th and the 36th were "fighting regiments" which were heavily engaged during the war and suffered large numbers of killed or wounded. Draper served for a time on the staff of Maj. Gen. Ambrose as Acting Signal Officer, participated in the Antietam Campaign, fought at Fredericksburg, and pursued Morgan's cavalry in Kentucky. In October 1863 following the Battle of Blue Springs (TN), Major Draper assumed command of the regiment in place of the wounded Lieut. Col. Goodell. General Ferrero notes in his recommendation that Draper continued in command five months later as of the date of his recommendation. While leading his regiment on the top of a rifle-pit at Wilderness, Draper was wounded, but he soon returned to his regiment participating in multiple engagements including at Weldon Railroad and Poplar Grove Church. Following the war, Draper was involved in multiple business pursuits and was active in politics, serving as a Massachusetts representative to the US Congress (1893-1897) and the US Ambassador to Italy (1897-1900).