Check Signed by General William Wells – Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient

Description: Check Signed by General William Wells – Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient Offered for your consideration is a partly printed bank check, issued in 1879, signed by General and Civil War Medal of Honor recipient William Wells. The check is drawn on the “Merchants National Bank of Burlington” in Burlington, Vermont and is dated “2nd December 1879”. The body of the document instructs the recipient to “Pay to the order of Two and 46/100 Dollars”, with the signature of “Wm Wells” in his capacity as “Collector &c” at the conclusion. One bank cancellation is noted on the front, and the reserve is signed by recipient on an originally blank back. The check was printed by “Corbies, Macy & Co. Stationers, 39 Nassau St., N. Y.”, as evidenced by their imprint at the lower left below the check number. This check is interesting due to the signature of Wells, as a Civil War General and a recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions on the battlefield of Gettysburg. General William Wells Biography William Wells was born on December 14, 1837, in Waterbury, Vermont and attended local schools for his early education. These were followed by time spent at Barre Academy and Kimball Union Academy (in Vermont and New Hampshire, respectively). From 1856 through the outbreak of the Civil War, Wells served as an assistant in his father’s extensive business activities. On September 9, 1861, after the initial battles of the Civil War had been contested, William Wells assisted in the raising of Company C, 1st Vermont Cavalry. Sworn into the Federal service on October 3, 1861, he was advanced to first lieutenant and captain by November of that year. On October 30, 1862, Wells was promoted to major following heavy action in the fight at Orange Court House, Virginia, on August 2, 1862. During the Gettysburg Campaign, Wells commanded the Second battalion, 1st Vermont Cavalry in the repulse of Confederate General J. E. B. Stuart’s cavalry at the battle of Hanover. On the third day of the battle of Gettysburg, Wells commanded the leading battalion during a desperate cavalry charge on Big Round Top (for this action he would later be awarded the Medal of Honor). Wells was wounded by a saber cut at the battle of Boonsboro, Maryland, a few days later, while on September 13, 1863, he charged the enemy’s artillery and was wounded again, this time by a shell. The regiment participated in the Kilpatrick Raid, after which Wells was placed in command of the 7th Michigan Cavalry for a month. He commanded a battalion of cavalry at the battle of Yellow Tavern, after which Wells was promoted colonel on June 4, 1864. From September 1864 through the close of the war, Wells was several times in command of the Third Cavalry Division. During the battle of Cedar Creek, his brigade helped turn the tide from defeat to victory and captured 45 of the 48 artillery pieces taken by the Federal forces. He was appointed brevet brigadier general of volunteers on February 22, 1865, and on the recommendations of Generals Sheridan and Custer, he was commissioned brigadier general on May 16, 1865. He was appointed brevet major general of volunteers on March 30, 1865, and he commanded the Second Brigade of Custer’s Division of the Cavalry Corps, which led the advance during the Grand Review on May 22, 1865. During the war, Wells participated in seventy cavalry engagements, leading a brigade or division in eighteen of them. He was mustered out of the army on January 15, 1866. Following the war, Wells returned to civilian life, becoming a partner in a wholesale drug business. He also entered state politics, being elected adjutant general of Vermont in 1866, a position he held until 1872. He was then appointed collector of customs for the district of Vermont, serving until 1885, after which he was a member of the Vermont State Senate for one year. He was active in veteran affairs throughout his post-war career and was a prominent member of the business community. William Wells died suddenly from angina pectoris in New York City on April 29, 1892, and was subsequently buried in Lakeview Cemetery in Burlington, Vermont. This signed check measures approximately 2¾ x 8⅛ inches. A nice, representative example of a brave cavalry officer, which would frame nicely, making a great addition to any Civil War or Medal of Honor collection. See photos for condition. Thanks for looking and good luck bidding.

Price: 150 USD

Location: Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

End Time: 2025-01-17T22:55:09.000Z

Shipping Cost: 10.45 USD