American Historical Ephemera and Photography

Autograph letter signed ("W. Dennison") as Ohio Governor, to President Abraham Lincoln. Columbus, [Ohio]. 18 May 1861. 2pp, 5 x 8 in. (creasing at folds, light toning). On "The State of Ohio, Executive Department" letterhead. Accompanied by matching cover addressed "To the President of the US / Washington DC."

Just weeks after the onset of the Civil War, Dennison writes to Lincoln recommending General Edward Pierce Fyffe (1810-1867) "for an appointment of Brigadier Genl. under your second call for volunteers from this state...I feel it to be only due to Genl. Fyffe to say that he is fully deserving all the good opinion of his neighbors as to his personal and military character...."

Edward Pierce Fyffe entered the US service as a colonel of the 26th OVI which was organized at Camp Chase, Ohio, and mustered into three years service in July 1861. Fyffe served the duration of the war, though from June 1864 he served with Field & Staff 7th Veteran Reserve Corps. He mustered out on 8/20/1866. William Dennison, Jr. was a Republican politician who served as Governor of Ohio from January 1860-January 1862. He later served as US Postmaster General from September 1864 through July 1866.

[With:] BROUGH, Governor John (1811-1865). Printed "Proclamation. The State of Ohio, Executive Department, Columbus, May 2d, 1865." Signed in type by John Brough. 1p, bifolium. Docketed on verso "Proclamation by the Gov. of Ohio / May 31 1865."

In alignment with President Johnson's proclamation of 1 June 1865 as "a day of humiliation and mourning" in "memory of the good man who has been removed," Brough recommends to the people of Ohio "a united and solemn observance of the same ... that all our people united, not only in humiliation before the Lord, and contemplation of the services and virtues of the great and good man who has been taken away from us...."