American Historical Ephemera & Photography

1 page, sight 14 x 17 3/4 in., minor creasing, matted and framed, not examined out of frame.

Commission for Orville E. Babcock to the rank of major by brevet on 29 November 1863, "for gallant and meritorious service during the siege of Knoxville, Tennesse." With docketing at upper left and with seal. 

Orville Elias Babcock (1834-1884) was a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1861, enlisting on 6 May 1861 as a 2nd lieutenant and commissioned the same day into the 1st U.S. Army Battalion of Engineers. The Batallion was assigned to the Engineer Brigade of the Army of the Potomac and fought at Antietam, bridged the Rappahannock River 6 times at Fredericksburg, breached fortifications at Petersburg, and was present at the surrender of General Lee at Appomattox. Babcock saw continued promotions, here to major by brevet, eventually reaching brigadier general by brevet on 13 march 1865. he is buried at Arlington National Cemetery (2-3828).