2 ½ pages, 5x8”, in ink, on imprinted letter sheet.  “Office of Bliss & Cadwalader, / Attorneys and Counsellors, / No. 45 William Street, / New York, Dec. 14^th 1865”. The letter is one of recommendation, directed to the Secretary of Treasury, Washington, D.C., for Bvt. Brig. Gen. E.S. Otis.  Overall very fine condition; all text legible; fold lines, no holes or tears.

Text is as follows:

Sir:

I desire cordially to recommend Bvt. Brig. Gen. E.S. Otis, late of the 140^th N.Y.V., for the position of Collector of Internal Revenue for the 28^th Congressional District of the state of New York. From what I know of this officer and his military qualifications & services & his general capability & integrity I believe him to be thoroughly qualified for & deserving of the place. I have the honor to be Sir, Very Respectfully, Francis C. Barlow, late Maj. Gen. Vols. & Secretary of State of the State of New York.”

Francis Channing Barlow was born October 19, 1834 in Brooklyn, New York but was raised in his mother's home town of Brookline, Massachusetts. He studied law at Harvard University, graduated first in his class, and was practicing law on the staff of the New York Tribune newspaper when the Civil War broke out in 1861.

In April of 1861 Barlow enlisted as a Private in the 12th New York but was soon commissioned a 1st Lieutenant. After serving three months Barlow was mustered out on August 5, 1861.

Barlow was next commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the 61st New York. By the time the regiment saw its first service on the Peninsula Barlow was its Colonel. At Antietam Barlow commanded the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Corps. During this action Barlow was wounded in the face and groin but earned the praise of his Division Commander in his official report. On September 19, 1862 Barlow was promoted to Brigadier General of Volunteers.

After a partial recovery from his wounds Barlow took command of the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 11th Corps and led them at Chancellorsville. Barlow’s brigade missed their Corps collapse at Chancellorsville due to their being detached to support the 3rd Corps. After the battle Barlow was promoted to command of the 2nd Division.

At Gettysburg Barlow’s Division occupied the knoll that now bears his name. Out flanked and defeated Barlow’s Division took part in the retreat through the town on July 1st. Barlow remained behind badly wounded and not expected to live. Confederates brought Barlow to a hospital where they left him upon their retreat from Gettysburg. He eventually recovered from his wounds and returned to the army in April of 1864.

Upon rejoining the army Barlow was assigned to command the 1st Division of the 2nd Corps which he led at the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor and Petersburg. In February of 1865 he received a brevet promotion to Major General of Volunteers for services at Spotsylvania.

During the Appomattox Campaign Barlow commanded the 2nd Division of the 2nd Corps and was appointed to full Major General on May 25, 1865.

Leaving the army on November 16, 1865, Barlow served as a United States Marshal and the New York Secretary of State and New York State Attorney General, before he returned to his law practice. He was a founder of the American Bar Association and was active in Republican politics and investigated the 1876 presidential election, the Hayes-Tilden election, for irregularities. Barlow died of Bright's disease in New York City on January 11, 1896. He was buried in Walnut Street Cemetery in Brookline, Massachusetts.

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