This is a nicely framed and presented New York commission on vellum filled out for Thomas Wayne as first lieutenant of Co. D 115^th New York, with an official red seal and signature of the Governor. This commission is dated September 1862, but gives Wayne rank from August 20, the date of his official muster in. The regiment, nicknamed the “Ironhearted Regiment” was one of those captured at Harpers Ferry in 1862, but returned to field service and established a good fighting record, losing 7 officers and 142 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded in engagements such as Olustee, the extended fighting and numerous engagements of the Petersburg Campaign that included Chester Station, Cold Harbor, Deep Bottom, and Chaffin’s Farm, and also at Fort Fisher, before returning to Petersburg. They spent most of their service in the 10^th Army Corps, with shorter periods in the 7^th, 8^th, 18^th, and 24^th, and mustered out June 17, 1865, at Raleigh, NC.

Wayne had a good service record with some close calls, but was struck by family tragedy. Born about 1827, in 1860 he was involved in business and living in Florida, Montgomery County, New York with his wife and five children. In Fall 1862 he joined the 115^th NY, which had begun to recruit in July 1862 in the counties of Fulton, Hamilton, Montgomery, and Saratoga, and received this commission. He took over command of the command of the company after Captain Lingenfelter was discharged in October 1864 and was promoted to captain of the company November 19, 1864, with rank to date October 8, the day Lingenfelter left. The regimental history apparently mistranscribed his 1862 commission as dating August 26 rather than August 20, but summarizes his service as follows: “First Lieut. Thomas Wayne, of Florida, Montgomery Co., entered the regiment on the 26th day of August, 1862, as 1st Lieut. of Co. D. He served with his company through the Maryland and Virginia campaign, through the campaign of Florida in 1864, and did service in Virginia until after the regiment moved to Petersburg. He commanded his company at Olustee with skill. At Chesterfield Heights, Va, a bullet broke the hilt of his sword, and two others passed through his coat, yet strange to say, he escaped injury. He enjoyed poor health while in the army, and was bowed down with sorrow when the news reached him of the death of his two children. He was honorably discharged from the service on surgeon's certificate of disability, Feb. 22d, 1865.” Wayne returned to Montgomery County, but by 1870 had moved his wife and surviving children to Johnstown, where he took up glove manufacturing.

The commission is nicely presented in a silver lined oak frame measuring about 18.5 by 22 inches overall, with a 13.5 by 11.5 inch mat opening. Both the printed portions of the commission and the portions filled in by hand in brown and red ink are fully legible. The commission is smooth, shows no fold lines, and is possibly laid down. The frame still has its original cedar shake backing boards. This shows off very nicely and is ready to hang. [sr]

Extra shipping required. Framed with UV Protective Glass - Click here for our policy on shipping framed items containing glass.

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