1864 ALS GEN. HIRAM DURYEA, 5TH NEW YOUR ZOUAVES

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Item Code: 475-208

This 1 ¼ page letter, written in ink on an 8x10” sheet of lined paper, is dated “Brooklyn Feb 22d 1864.” It is a letter of recommendation for Charles Higgins, who was serving in Co. B, 1st New York Cavalry. Directed to New York Governor Horatio Seymour. Letter is in excellent condition, all writing is clear and legible. Fold lines; few scattered areas of ink smudges.

 

Text is as follows:

 

To His Excellency

Governor Seymour

Dear Sir:

The bearer here of this Charles Haggens, enlisted in the 1st N.Y. or Lincoln Cavalry, Col. McReynolds, at the commencement of the war, and has served nearly three years and re-enlisted. He is a young man of excellent family and was prior to his enlistment a clerk in a good house in New York; and has the education, ability and experience to become a good officer. You will find that the officers of his regiment so esteem him; and they will recommend his promotion in that or some other regiment of cavalry. Haggens is very modest but has ability. I feel much interest in his success and if possible I crave for him an appointment. I think he will make a valuable and intelligent officer. I am Sir, Yours very truly, Hiram Duryea.”

 

Hiram Duryea had a remarkably successful career in the military, progressing from the rank of First Lieutenant in 1855 to the rank of Colonel by September 1862.  Colonel Duryea commanded the 5th New York Infantry known as Duryea’s Zouaves during the first part of the Civil War.  In November of 1862 the colonel was forced to resign from the Army of the Potomac due to ill health. In March of 1865 Duryea was brevetted Brigadier General by Congress for his "distinguished conduct at the battle of Gaines' Mill, Va."

After his military career Duryea joined the family business, eventually becoming President of the National Starch Company in 1890.  His tough determination combined with the talents of his brilliant son, Chester, were the elements of his success in the starch industry.  Chester discovered new uses for corn starch.  Using his shrewd business sense Duryea parlayed his son’s ideas into millions of dollars.  Ironically, Colonel Duryea was shot to death by Chester on May 5, 1914.  Chester claimed that angels had told him to shoot his father seven times in the head while he slept in his Brooklyn, NY mansion.

Charles Haggens was 26 years old when he enlisted on 7/19/61 at New York City , as a private, mustering into Co. B, 1st New York Cavalry. He was captured on 10/2/62 at Romney, WV, and subsequently paroled on 10/8/62 at Winchester, VA. He re-enlisted on 1/1/64 and was mustered out on 6/27/65 at Washington, D.C.

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