This is a slip of paper that meas. approx. 4.50 inches long x 2.50 inches wide that reads “MILITARY COMMISSION, WASHINGTON D. C., JUNE 16, 1865, AUGUST V. KAUTZ, BRIG. + BVT. MAJ. GEN.” The period ink inscription is strong and very readable.

August Valentine Kautz was born January 5, 1828 Ispringen, Baden, Germany. He came to the United States with his parents in 1832 and settled in Ohio. During the war with Mexico Kautz served as a Private in the 1^st Ohio Infantry. After the war he attended West Point from which he graduated in 1852. Kautz was assigned to the 4^th US Infantry and was wounded twice fighting Indians in the northwest.

During the Civil War Kautz served as a Captain with the 6th U.S. Cavalry during the Peninsula Campaign from April to July 1862. Transferred to the Western Theater, Kautz later assisted in operations as a Colonel with the 2nd Ohio Cavalry against Confederate General John Hunt Morgan's highly successful raid behind Union lines in Indiana and Ohio during June and July 1863. He also served under the command of Major General Ambrose Burnside at the Battle of Knoxville from September to December 1863.

Kautz was promoted to Brigadier General of Volunteers on April 16, 1864. He led a Cavalry Division of Major General Benjamin Butler’s Army of the James during Ulysses S. Grant's campaigns against Richmond and Petersburg. On December 12, 1864 he was promoted to the rank of Brevet Major General of Volunteers.

In early April 1865 Kautz marched into Richmond in command of a division of colored troops which belonged to Godfrey Weitzel's XXV Corps. He was active during the Union pursuit of Robert E. Lee from April 2 to April 9, 1865 and until Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House.

After the assassination of President Lincoln on April 14, 1865 Kautz was assigned to the commission that would try the conspirators. On July 17, 1866 President Andrew Johnson promoted Kautz to the rank of Brevet Major General in the Regular Army to rank from March 13, 1865.

Kautz continued to serve in the Army during the Indian Wars and was eventually promoted to the full rank of Brigadier General in the Regular Army in 1891.

He died in Seattle, Washington on September 4, 1895 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

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