He gallantly commanded a division in Sickles 3rd Corps at Gettysburg

Autograph Letter Signed as Major General

(1810-83) Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, his grandfather, Joshua, was the "Father of the American Navy," who had served as chief naval constructor from 1794 to 1801, and designed the first U.S. warships, six frigates, the USS Constitution ("Old Ironsides") and her sister ships. Andrew's father, Samuel, designed and built the USS Pennsylvania, the largest and most heavily armed warship at the time. Samuel, like his father, was a chief naval constructor from 1826 to 1846. Andrew graduated from West Point in 1831, and upon graduation joined the 2nd U.S. Artillery at Fort Moultrie, Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. At the beginning of the Seminole Indian Wars Humphreys followed his regiment in the summer of 1836 to Florida where he received his first combat experience. Humphreys was appointed an aide to General George B. McClellan in 1861, and was promoted to brigadier general in April 1862. In September of that year he took command of a division of the 5th Corps which he led with distinction in the Antietam campaign, the bloody assault on Marye's Heights at Fredericksburg, and at the battle of Chancellorsville. He was then transferred to command a division in General Dan Sickles 3rd Corps; where he fought gallantly in resisting the assaults of Generals' John Bell Hood and Lafayette McLaws at Gettysburg, earning promotion to major general. Shortly thereafter, he became Army of the Potomac commander, General George G. Meade's chief of staff. In 1864, Humphreys was appointed to take command of the 2nd Corps by General U.S. Grant, an assignment he brought inspiring leadership to, and he played an important role leading up to the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox. After the war, General Humphreys commanded the District of Pennsylvania, and became a permanent Brigadier General, and Chief of Engineers in 1866. He oversaw a corps that did river and harbor work and he held this position until June 30, 1879, when he retired. He also served during this period on lighthouse and other engineering boards. He wrote his personal accounts of the war, published in 1883: "From Gettysburg to the Rapidan and The Virginia Campaign of '64 and '65." He died in Washington, D.C., on December 27, 1883, and is buried there in the Congressional Cemetery.

Autograph Letter Signed: 1 page, 5 3/4 x 9 1/4, in ink.

Washington, May 25, 1868

Messrs. W.W.H. Davis
Mahlon Yardley
Henry P. Ross
& others, [Committee]

Doylestown, Penna.,

I have received your invitation to participate in the ceremonies of the dedication of the monument lately erected to the memory of the officers and men of the 104th Pennsylvania Regt. who fell in the late war, and regret that official engagements will prevent my being present on the occasion, for it is always a source of satisfaction to unite in a tribute of respect to those who fell in the war.

Respectfully,
Your obdt. Servt.,
A.A. Humphreys
Maj. Genl.

Very fine condition with some old, light glue stains around the other edges of the verso. Excellent content. Very desirable Union Gettysburg general's A.L.S.