Signature with rank of Brigadier General

Military Governor of Louisiana in 1862

(1819-78) Born in Saco, Maine, his famous father, Ether Shepley, served as a U.S. Senator, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. George graduated from Dartmouth College, studied law, and began a practice in Bangor. He served as U.S. District Attorney for Maine prior to the war. He became close friends with soon to be Union Major General Benjamin F. Butler when they served together as delegates in the 1860 Democratic National Convention at Charleston, S.C. Commissioned colonel of the 12th Maine Infantry in November 1861, he accompanied General Butler's forces in the expedition against New Orleans, La. After the capture of the city on May 1, 1862, Shepley became Butler's right hand man and he assigned him as post commander at New Orleans, and the military governor of Louisiana in June 1862. He was promoted to rank of brigadier general to rank from July 18, 1862. General Shepley continued to work in this capacity until the spring of 1864, when he was assigned to the District of Eastern Virginia under the command of his old comrade General Butler again. As the war began to wind down, Shepley operated as chief of staff to General Godfrey Weitzel, and was appointed military governor of Richmond, Va. in April 1865. After the war, he returned to his law practice, and in 1869, President Ulysses S. Grant appointed him United States circuit court judge for the state of Maine.

Signature with rank: 5 1/2 x 2 1/8, in ink, G.F. Shepley, Brig. Genl. U.S. Vols. Beautiful and large bold autograph.