LIEUTENANT HENRY ROE, CHICAGO MERCANTILE BATTERY GROUP: PHOTO, COMMISSIONS, EXCELLENT SABINE CROSSROADS BATTLE LETTER

LIEUTENANT HENRY ROE, CHICAGO MERCANTILE BATTERY GROUP: PHOTO, COMMISSIONS, EXCELLENT SABINE CROSSROADS BATTLE LETTER

Hover to zoom

Image 1 Image 2 Image 3 Image 4 Image 5 Image 6 Image 7 Image 8 Image 9 Image 10 Image 11 Image 12 Image 13

$1,500.00

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 2024-2090

Shipping: Determined by Method & Location of buyer

To Order:
Call 717-334-0347,
Fax 717-334-5016, or E-mail

The Chicago Mercantile Independent Battery Light Artillery mustered into service Aug. 19, 1862, and served until mustered out in July1865. It saw active service in the western theatre in Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. Three of its members were awarded the Medal of Honor for actions at Vicksburg. The medals were likely granted for actions when a lieutenant pushed two guns up to within 25 feet of Confederate fortifications and held the position until nightfall, supported only by “a storming party.” For a summary of its record see below, where we quote the battery’s record as given on the soldier’s memorial included in this group. The grouping comes from Henry Roe, who enlisted as a private Aug. 8, 1862, was commissioned 2nd and 1st Lieutenant and served to the end of the war, mustering out in June 1865. It includes a CDV of him in uniform nicely id’d in ink, an enlarged, framed, colored portrait version, and a good battle letter regarding the battle of Sabine Cross Roads, a defeat he lays on Gen. Banks, but in which the battery performed very well.

The group consists of the following items, which we have divided into wartime, veteran, and civilian material.

WARTIME

Full standing CDV of Roe in uniform as 2nd Lt, wearing frock coat, cap with art insignia, wearing cavalry officer saber. Nicely id’d on back ink and dated Jan. 1864. Slight thin vertical stain to left of figure.

Enlarged, colored and framed version of this CDV, measuring 22-1/2” by 18” overall with the image 19-1/2” by 14-3/4.” We have listed this among wartime material, as the image certainly is, though this enlarged version was certainly made after the war, for display at home, and even comes with a business card receipt to Roe for a portrait made from the photograph by Ten Eyck & Co.

1863 CW discharge “in the field near Port Gibson Miss” for Roe as private to accept commission. Slight tear at bottom.

June 8, 1863 commission for Roe as 2nd Lieutenant, signed by Gov. Yates and others. Large format, “Illinois Volunteers, Head-Quarters” at top. Folds, some staining. Minor tears. Impressed state seal.

July 10, 1865, discharge for Roe as Lieutenant with list of battles he was in on reverse, signed by the battery Captain. The engagements are: Chickasaw Bayou; Arkansas Post; Port Gibson, Miss; Champion Hills; Black River Bridge; Vicksburg, Miss; Siege of Vicksburg; Siege of Jackson, Miss; Sabine Cross Roads. All with dates of engagements.

One old typewritten summary of this service and 2 handwritten versions, one also with his place of  birth, membership in James A. Garfield Post No. 9 at Leadville, Colo., etc.

Roe’s Aug. 9, 1864, commission as 1st Lieutenant, “vice Throop killed in battle,” signed by Gov. Yates, Sec. State Hatch and Adj. Gen. Fuller, with impressed seal.

Roe’s Aug./Sept. 1864 Muster-Out Roll to enable him to accept promotion to 1st Lieutenant. Minor tears.

Roe’s Sept. 1864 Muster-In Roll as 1st Lieutenant.

Nov. 1863 document regarding pay for transportation. Poor condition.

 

Duplicate handwritten notes from L. Bennett Schwabe 4/23/64 to commanding officer of battery noting the battery’s fame has reached Germany and would be happy to send papers reporting it.

April 30, 1864 pass for Roe from Camp Parapet, La.

May 1864 letter from Roe that the war must be continued and won so the union can be restored.

Four-page, May 4, 1864, letter from Roe to brother recounting Battle of Sabine Crossroads and sacrifice of the battery and the division “by ignorance of a political general,” namely Banks. Good detail of maneuvers and battle experience: “… our men soon fell in the rear of their old battery as they called us that it what was left of them and we opened on the rebs. Thanks to the practice we had at Vicksburg & other places there was not a shell wasted every shell burst in their ranks Our six ten pounders fairly shook the earth. I never knew the boys to load and fire so fast before even on drill. We cut their line completely in two…” Folds, minor holes and separation lines, but very good and legible.

June 7, 1864, letter from head of the Chicago Mercantile Association expressing support of the battery in the wake of the “disastrous Red River expedition,” with copy of a published resolution to that effect and $100 to be divided among those most needy in the battery.

June 1864 pass for Roe in New Orleans while awaiting results of a court martial.

July 1864 testimonial letter by officers of the 4th Division that Roe was brave and should be retained in the service, listing 33 officers with their units listed. Longhand clerical copy, possibly related to the courtmartial referenced above.

Sept. 1864 letters to Roe from  Lt. Col. Christenson A.A.G. requesting a soldier to act as clerk and follow up thanking him for soldier assigned on back of letter of introduction for the soldier.

Nov 1864 letter to Roe requesting copy of order requiring batteries to have quartermasters.

Dec. 24, 1864, letter requesting all the axes in the battery.

Jan. 13, 1865, battery orders and instructions for times of reveille, roll, fatigue, stable calls, etc.

Jan 24, 1865, letter to Roe (spelled Rowe) from officer requesting he bring “the man with the flute,” his guitar, etc. that night.

May 15, 1865, orders for times of various calls.

Two envelopes addressed to Roe, one noting it contained a commission, the other to him as recruiting officer.

July 6, 1865, “complimentary to the Mercantile Battery!” Supper for them on return home at the Tremont House.

 

VETERAN MATERIAL

Soldier’s memorial or record for the Chicago Mercantile Battery, black and white, eagle at top, battle scene vignettes, list of all officers, NCOs, privates, etc. with list of those discharged for promotion, discharged, killed in action (2 lts, 2 corpls, 1 private, and died (5,) with unit history at bottom in two panels, up to muster out June 8, 1865. (Other sources indicate losses were 2 officers and 5 men killed or mortally wounded and 11 men died of disease.)

The battery history as given there is extensive and reads as follows:

 

“The Chicago Mercantile Battery was organized in Chicago, Illinois, and mustered into the service on the 29th of August, 1862. On the 8th of Nov. it left Chicago and arrived in Memphis, Tenn., Nov. 14th. It left Memphis Nov. 26th, with Major Gen. Sherman's expedition for Oxford, Miss., and returned to Memphis on Dec. 13th. On the 25th of Dec. it embarked with Major Gen. Sherman's expedition against Vicksburg, and with his army, spent three days in the swamps of Chickasaw Bayou. Soon afterwards, on the 10th and 11th days of January, 1863, it was in the engagement at Arkansas Post, and for its services there, was complimented by Major Gen. Osterhaus in a general order. The remainder of the winter was spent in Camp at Young’s Point and Milliken’s Bend, La. On the 15th of April it marched with Lieut. Gen. Grant’s expedition against Vicksburg, and crossed the Mississippi at Bruinsburg on the 1st of May; it was the same day engaged in the contest at Port Gibson. It participated in the battles of Champion Hills on the 16th, and of Black River Bridge on the 17th of May, and took an active part in the vigorous siege which caused the surrender of the place on the 4th of July. On the 22d of May, two guns, under the command of Lieut. Throop, were pushed forward to within 25 feet of the enemy's works, and supported only by a storming party, held their position and kept a continuous firing until darkness compelled them to retire. For this and other services performed during the siege, it received honorable mention from Major Gen. McClernand in his report. On the 5th of July it left Vicksburg with Major Gen. Sherman's expedition against Jackson, Miss., and was engaged seven days in the siege of that place, after which it returned to Vicksburg. During this time it was attached to the 10th Division (Major Gen. A.J. Smith's) of the 13th Army Corps. It left Vicksburg on Aug. 30th for New Orleans, and thence on Oct. 5th, it accompanied Gen. Franklin's expedition up Bayou Teche. It returned again to New Orleans on Dec. 23d, and embarked on steamer St. Mary for Texas. It arrived at DeCrow's Point on Dec. 30, 1863, and remained there until Feb. 25, 1864, when it returned to Berwick City and formed a part of the 13th Army Corps under Gen. Ransom. Left Berwick March 14th under Maj. Gen. Banks ‘ expedition against Texas, and on the 8th of April was in the action of Sabine Cross Roads, La., losing 2 officers and 2 men killed, an 5 wounded and 2 officers and 19 men prisoners. Returned to New Orleans April 26th, and remained there until Nov. 20th, when, as part of Brig. Gen. Davidson’s command, it left for Baton Rouge, and from thence marched to Pascagoula, Miss., a distance of 300 miles. Returning to New Orleans on Jan. 2, 1865, it left on the 11th for Baton Rouge and remained in camp until May 8th, when it again returned to New Orleans, and was mustered out of service by Capt. Wheaton, June 8, 1865.”

 

July 1880 Union Veteran Association invitation to banquet for Grant.

1901 Letter from Ladies of the G.A.R., Pueblo, CO, regarding birth of a daughter.

1888 letter on chances of being hit at Stones River: weight of US projectiles fired versus number of Confederate casualties.

 

CIVILIAN

Five personal letters 1867 to 1888, to his niece, etc.

 

Roe was born about 1837 and was a messenger for U.S. Express when he enlisted in 1862. By 1888 he was engaged in mining in Leadville, Colorado. He died in Leadville Aug. 18, 1890. His wife Rosa applied for a widow’s pension Sept. 18, 1890, in Leadville. Some of his papers are also at the Chicago History Museum. This is an interesting grouping from an officer and unit with some serious combat along with room for further research, such as the charges in his courtmartial, etc.

This is a large, substantial, historic archive that also displays very, very well.   [sr] [ph:L]

Additional shipping charge necessary.

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

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

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS.

THANK YOU!

Inquire »

Inquire About LIEUTENANT HENRY ROE, CHICAGO MERCANTILE BATTERY GROUP: PHOTO, COMMISSIONS, EXCELLENT SABINE CROSSROADS BATTLE LETTER

should be empty