Vignette bust view of Griffin in the uniform of a Brigadier General. Image is clear and clean but contrast is a tad light.

Reverse has a very nice period ink inscription that reads “S. G. GRIFFIN / BRIG. GENL. U.S.V. / 2^ND DIV. 9^TH A.C.”  Back mark id for ADDIS GALLERY… WASHINGTON, D.C. Reverse also has a canceled green 3 cent tax stamp.

Simon G. Griffin was born at Nelson, New Hampshire on August 9, 1824. As an adult Griffin was a farmer and a teacher. He represented his town in the State legislature and was admitted to the bar in 1860.

During the Civil War, Griffin served first as a Captain in the 2nd New Hampshire Infantry from June 1, 1861 to October 31 of that same year. He served as Lieutenant-Colonel of the 6th New Hampshire Infantry from November 28, 1861 until he became Colonel on April 22, 1862. Griffin led his regiment in 9^th Army Corps at the 2^nd Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Antietam and the Battle of Fredericksburg. He also led the 1^st Brigade of the 2^nd Division briefly during the winter of 1862-1863.

Griffin's regiment was sent west with Major General Ambrose Burnside, with Griffin serving alternately as regimental and brigade commander. He served under Major General Ulysses S. Grant during the Siege of Vicksburg. Next Colonel Griffin participated in Sherman's Meridian and Yazoo River Expeditions in Mississippi in February 1864, which culminated in the Battle of Meridian.

Returning east, Griffin commanded the 2^nd Brigade, 2^nd Division, in the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania and Cold Harbor. He was appointed Brigadier General of Volunteers on May 30, 1864 to rank from May 12, 1864.

When Major General Robert B. Potter was wounded in an attack on Fort Mahone during the Third Battle of Petersburg on April 2, 1865, Griffin became acting division commander during the Appomattox Campaign. He also commanded a division in the Department of Washington after the Confederate surrender.

General Griffin was mustered out of the service on August 24, 1865. On January 13, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Griffin for promotion to brevet Major General of Volunteers for gallantry at the Siege of Petersburg. The United States Senate confirmed the appointment on March 12, 1866.

After the war, Griffin returned to the Granite State and was a manufacturer at Harrisville, New Hampshire. He was elected five times to a seat in the New Hampshire Legislature, serving in the last two terms as Speaker. He spent several years in Texas where he speculated in land and railroads. He returned to Keene, New Hampshire where he was a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. Griffin died in Keene, New Hampshire on January 14, 1902 and was buried there in Woodland Cemetery.  [ad]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.