American Historical Ephemera and Photography

One page, 14 1/2 x 17 1/4 in., on vellum. Creasing, some staining, light wear to edges and corners. Embossed seal to upper left. Countersigned by Secretary of War George W. Crawford.

Appoints Gustavus A. De Russy a "First Lieutenant in the Fourth Regiment of Artillery," to rank from 16 May 1849.

Born into a military family Gustavus Adolphus De Russy (1818-1891) took up the torch by attending West Point starting in 1835, though he did not graduate due to alcohol use. Regardless, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1847, serving as such when the Mexican-American War began, and receiving brevets to first lieutenant for gallantry at the Battle of Contreras and Churubusco, and to captain for gallantry at Chapultepec. He served as quartermaster at Fort Monroe from 1848-1857, and was promoted to captain prior to the beginning of the Civil War.

De Russy was given command of the artillery reserve of III Corps in the Peninsula Campaign and Seven Days Battles, being breveted a major and lieutenant colonel in June and July of 1862 respectively. He was commissioned a colonel of the 4th New York Heavy Artillery regiment in March of 1863, and to brigadier general of volunteers that May. For the duration of the war, he commanded the southern defenses of Washington, DC, receiving a brevet to colonel just before the war's end in March of 1865.

He continued his army service after the war, ultimately retiring in 1882.