American Historical Ephemera & Photography

A collection of approx. 150 items tracing John C. Robinson’s career from a young soldier through the Civil War and Reconstruction, as well as his post-war political endeavors and duties as President of the Society of Potomac and Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. Throughout his military career, Robinson received five wartime brevets including Gettysburg, the Wilderness, and Spotsylvania, plus a Medal of Honor for Laurel Hill awarded in 1894. 

John Cleveland Robinson (1817-1897) was born in Binghamton, NY, and entered the military academy at West Point at the age of 18. After three years at the military academy, he was expelled for insubordination in 1838 and left to study law. Within a year, Binghamton joined the regular army, receiving a commission as 2nd lieutenant in the 5th Infantry. He served through the Mexican War in the Quartermaster's Department and saw action at Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterrey, and Mexico City. After duty in Texas, promotion to captain in 1850, and service in the Seminole Wars and the 1857 Utah Expedition, he assumed command of Fort McHenry, in Baltimore, Maryland. With a force of 60 men inside the fort, he made a show of force against Maryland secessionists during the Baltimore Riots, on 19 April 1861, preventing the fort's seizure.

In September 1861 he was sent on recruiting duty in the Midwest, raised the 1st Michigan Volunteers, and was elected its colonel. Soon after, Robinson received a commission as a major of the 2nd US Infantry. In March 1862, he was commissioned a brigadier general of volunteers on 28 April 1862 and soon joined Major General George B. McClellan's army for the Peninsula Campaign as a member of the III Corps. Leading the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, he fought through Second Bull Run and Fredericksburg, then assumed leadership of the 2nd Division, I Corps for the Battle of Chancellorsville. At Gettysburg, Robinson fought a stiff delaying action and brought the survivors of the depleted 1st Corps off the field in good order allowing for the line to be consolidated. While commanding a division in the 5th Corps, this gallant officer lost his left leg while leading a forlorn charge at Spotsylvania on 8 May 1864, and was never again fit for field command. He retired from active service in the field, but for his conspicuous bravery in this action, he received the Medal of Honor (28 March 1894) and was brevetted a major general.

After the Civil War, Robinson ran the Freedmen's Bureau in North Carolina in 1866, the Department of the South in 1867, the Department of the Lakes in 1868, and received disability retirement in May 1869 as a full major general of Regulars. Elected Lieutenant Governor of New York in 1872, he served until 1874, and became active in the leadership of the Society of the Army of the Potomac and the Grand Army of the Republic until overtaken by blindness in 1893.

One of the centerpieces of the collection is John C. Robinson’s 1851 Colt Navy revolver housed in a case identified in period pencil on the bottom to “Gen’l John C. Robinson.” The revolver is accompanied by a letter outlining the provenance of the revolver, which was acquired directly from the Robinson family together with a handwritten history of General Robinson (also included with the lot).

Details regarding the revolver are as follows: .36 caliber. 7.5" octagonal barrel. SN: 10225 (Mfg. ca1852). Blued and color casehardened finish, silver plated brass backstrap and triggerguard, varnished one-piece walnut grip. Single action percussion revolver with six-chambered smooth round cylinder roll engraved with the Texas and Mexican naval battle scene. Top of barrel with one-line address that reads – “ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-YORK CITY” - and the lower left of the frame is marked in two lines “COLTS/PATENT.” Matching serial numbers throughout including the wedge, however the inked serial number in the grip cut out is not legible. The gun is a traditional early 3rd model Navy with a small triggerguard, appropriate small serial numbers, and the Ormsby signature still visible below the “COLT'S PATENT NO” mark on the cylinder. The revolver is contained in a compartmentalized period mahogany case with a soft wood bottom and a dark green lining and pillow. The case is missing the lock escutcheon from the front face, but the lock remains intact and functional, and the key is present. The case includes the following accessories: 1) an incorrect “Colt's Patent” marked flask that appears to be an old, well worn reproduction, 2) a well used “36B” marked dual cavity “COLTS/PATENT” marked iron bullet mold and 3) a period jappaned cap tin with a gold embossed “ELEY BROTHERS” lid. The bottom of the case has the name “Gen'l John C Robinson” written in a period hand in pencil and has been been protected with a thin layer of varnish.

The collection features several Civil War-period and immediate post-war items associated with Robinson and his service. Highlights include: 2 CDVs of Robinson in uniform, each taken by Brady’s studio and published by E. & H.T. Anthony (one with 2-cent US Internal Revenue stamp on verso). – 2 clipped signatures (“Jno. C. Robinson”) as Brigadier General and Brevet Major General respectively. – At least 3 war-date autograph letters or notes signed by Robinson, highlighted by a 3pp. ALS to “Smith,” who was stationed at Baltimore shortly after Robinson assumed command of the 1st MI Infantry, 6 October 1861. – Camp Union, Col. Jno. C. Robinson, 1st Mich. Infantry. 11 x 6 ½ in. lithograph published by L.N. Rosenthal, 1861 (toning and water damage, wear to old folds). – 7pp. ALS from Lt. William Byrns, 1st MI Infantry, to his wife, in which he discusses Colonel Robinson’s promotion to brigadier general. – 3 manuscript notes or receipts written in the field. – Military discharge document issued by John C. Robinson. – Rare medallion distributed to officers of the Army of the Potomac, 1 3/8 in. dia. – Cabinet card of Henry Lee Robinson, brother to John C. Robinson. He served as quartermaster during the war and attained the rank of Brigadier General. -- ALS from William J. Ackerson notifying the family of the death of Sergeant Joseph M. Mathews at the Battle of Wilderness, written near Petersburg, VA, 26 July 1864, with CDV, presumably showing the fallen soldier. – ALS from Surgeon Henry James, Gettysburg, PA, 14 December 1863, in which he requests a statement of the “Hospital Fund” of the 6th Corps. – Post-war cabinet card featuring composite images of past Post Commanders of the Department of New York GAR, including Robinson (Gardner & Co., NY). – 2 post-war cabinet cards of Robinson in civilian dress (Charles Pollock, Boston; Cornell, Binghamton, NY). – 2 post-war stereoviews, incl. Grand Review GAR in Washington (Griffith & Griffith). Partially printed document from Headquarters, Dept. of the South, signed by John C. Robinson as Major-General Commanding, 5 December 1866. – Used postal cover from the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, which was under the leadership of Robinson in 1866.

Six (6) items involving Ulysses S. Grant are also enclosed, most notably an autograph note signed (“U.S. Grant”) as lieutenant general, in which he writes to General Robinson, “I will be very glad of the company of General Robinson on the trip to Fortress Monroe. General Meade’s authorization will be required, however. An extra train leaves here at 8 AM tomorrow.” The note is accompanied by a US Military Telegraph form authorizing Robinson’s permission to accompany Grant to Fortress Monroe from “S. Williams, AAG.” Headquarters, Army of the Potomac, 30 March 1864. This telegram dates Grant’s note to 28 or 29 March 1864. A rare ANS written by Grant soon after becoming Commander in Chief of the Union Army. Also included are CDVs of U.S. Grant (J. Gurney & Son, Chicago) and George Meade (Wood & Brother, Albany, NY), a ½ in. dia. ferrotype pinback featuring portrait of Grant, and a 1 ¾ in. dia. celluloid button for the Grant Monument Inaugural in New York, April 1897.

60+  ribbons, medals, badges, and tokens are included, many commemorating GAR reunions, dedications, memorials, and other events involving veterans. Highlights include: 2 ribbons from Maj. Gen. John C. Robinson Camp No. 22, Binghamton, NY, dated June 1891, featuring a portrait of Robinson. – “Veteran” medal for Doubleday and Robinson statue dedications. –  GAR membership badge. -- Gettysburg anniversary and reunion ribbons and medals. – Ribbons and badges from encampments held by the Department of New York GAR. – Society of the Army of Potomac ribbons and badges, with program from a banquet held in Cleveland, OH in 1872. – Engineer Brigade, Army of the Potomac ribbons. -- National Encampment Stevengraph applied to original manufacturer’s paper backing. – GAR Chicago 1893 Stevengraph featuring portrait of Grant. – In Memoriam ribbons.  

The collection also contains post-war correspondence between Robinson and politicians, military figures, and other personalities of the late 19th century, including: HARRISON, Benjamin (1833-1901). Typed letter signed regarding Society of the Army of the Potomac gathering. Indianapolis, IN, 7 July 1888. – PORTER, Fitz-John (1822-1901). Autograph letter signed, with request for Robinson’s photograph, which would be used in a History of the 5th Corps. New York, 8 May 1894. With CV of Porter (Earle, Philadelphia, PA). – MCCLELLAN, George (1826-1885). Autograph letter signed, conveying regrets for being unable to attend a GAR reunion. Trenton, NJ, 9 August 1878. With CDV of McClellan and his wife (R.W. Addis, Washington, DC). -- 2 autograph letters signed by John C. Robinson declining invitations to reunion events, one signed as Lieutenant Governor of New York. – State Republican Ticket listing John A. Dix for Governor and John C. Robinson for Lieutenant Governor. -- Dictated letter signed by John C. Robinson recommending General Swain for Sing Sing Commissioner. Camden, SC, 25 February 1895.

Additional highlights include: Abraham Lincoln campaign token, CDV (uncredited), and Lincoln Funeral Car postcard. – Used cover from the US Sanitary Commission. – Reports of proceedings from the Society of the Army of the Potomac (1886, 1887). – Major-General Abner Doubleday and Brevet Major-General John C. Robinson in the Civil War. Albany: J.B. Lyon Company, 1918. – Fiftieth Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg 191. Albany: J.B. Lyon Company, 1916. – Dedication of the New York Auxiliary State Monument of the Battlefield of Gettysburg. Albany: J.B. Lyon, 1926. – Veterans of the War Almanac for 1869. Soldiers & Sailors Publishing Co. -- GAR Official Guide to Boston and Vicinity. Boston: Alfred Mudge & Son, 1890. – Supplement to the National Bulletin. Compliments of the Republican National Committee to the Members of the GAR. 29 October 1892. – GAR souvenir programs (1890, 1892). – Address of the Commander-in-Chief, Reports of Committee on Pensions and Council of Administration, presented to and adopted by the National Encampment, Grand Army of the Republic. Minneapolis, 1884. Philadelphia: Town Book and Job Printing House, 1884. – Multiple engravings and postcards related to the Civil War and post-war reunion activities.

An impressive assemblage of documents, photographs, ribbons, badges, and other artifacts associated with John C. Robinson’s life and career in the military and beyond. A detailed inventory and PowerPoint presentation illustrating the contents of the collection are available upon request.