Commanded the 32nd Missouri Infantry during the Civil War and was wounded at Vicksburg

Governor of Louisiana

Louisiana State Congressman

(1842-1931) He studied law, was admitted to the Missouri bar in 1860, and established his legal career while serving as a district attorney in Missouri. During the Civil War he was lieutenant colonel of the 32nd Missouri Infantry seeing action with them at the capture of Arkansas Post, and at Vicksburg where he was wounded. He was dishonorably discharged from the army for allegedly exaggerating the number of Union casualties, but after his personal appeal to President Abraham Lincoln he was reinstated to his former military status. After rejoining the army he commanded the regiment at the battle of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, took part in the Atlanta campaign, and reinforced General N.P. Banks at the Red Cedar retreat. He was later commissioned as judge of the Department of the Gulf Provost Court. Henry C. Warmoth was the 23rd Governor of Louisiana, from 1868 to 1872.** Facing criticism from some Republican leaders for supporting weakened civil rights legislation and for endorsing a Democratic/Fusionist ticket in the 1872 election, Warmoth's term culminated in impeachment proceedings and suspension from office. Lieutenant Governor P.B.S. Pinchback assumed office during Warmoth's absence, becoming the first African-American governor in the United States. The impeachment charges against Warmoth were dropped after his term of office ended. He was the first elected Reconstruction Governor of Louisiana; later, he was elected as a Louisiana State Representative, serving one term from 1876 to 1878 while Reconstruction ended and the federal government withdrew its troops from the state. In 1888, Warmoth challenged former governor and ex-Confederate General Francis T. Nicholls in a gubernatorial contest and narrowly lost to the Democrat in an election noted for widespread voter fraud. In 1890, Warmoth was appointed U.S. Collector of Customs in New Orleans and served in that capacity for several years. He published his memoirs, "War, Politics and Reconstruction," in 1930. It is well regarded and considered a classic of the genre. Warmoth died in New Orleans in 1931, at the age of 89.

Signature: 4 3/4 x 1, in ink, H.C. Warmoth.


** WBTS Trivia: Henry C. Warmoth was sworn into office as Governor of Louisiana on July 13, 1868. Elected at the age of 26, he was one of the youngest governors in United States history. Stevens T. Mason, the first governor of Michigan, was the youngest state governor, elected at age 24.