1873 PRINTED LETTER SIGNED LT. W.P. CLARK about COL. RODENBOUGH SECOND DRAGOONS

Description

LIEUTENANT W.P. CLARK.
Printed Letter Signed "W.P.Clark" as 1st Lt. and Adjutant 2d Cavalry. Single page on lined stationary. The letter is dated "Fort Sanders March 10, 1873.  Col. Rodenbough was in the process of writing the history of the Second dragoons and Lt. Clark writes "a special case would be greatly enhanced if written by a personal observer."
The 5 x 8 inch letter is set into a 7 x 9 3/4 inch framed paper mount.
Very good condition!
NO RESERVE!
Theophilus Francis Rodenbough
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Theophilus Francis Rodenbough
T. F. Rodenbough
Born
November 5, 1838
Easton
,
Pennsylvania
Died
December 19, 1912 (aged 74)
Easton, Pennsylvania
Place of burial
Easton Cemetery
Easton, Pennsylvania
Allegiance
United States of America
Union
Service/
branch
United States Army
Union Army
Years of service
1861 - 1870
Rank
Brigadier General
Unit
2nd U.S. Cavalry Regiment
Commands held
19th Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment
42nd U.S. Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars
American Civil War
Battle of Trevilian Station
Gettysburg Campaign
Battle of Opequon
Awards
Medal of Honor
Other work
author
Theophilus Francis Rodenbough
(November 5, 1838 – December 19, 1912) was born in
Easton, Pennsylvania
and was a
Union Army
officer during the
American Civil War
. He received America's highest military decoration the
Medal of Honor
for his actions at the
Battle of Trevilian Station
. After his retirement from the U.S. Army in 1870, he wrote several books about military history.
Biography
On March 27, 1861, shortly before the outbreak of the
American Civil War
, Rodenbough was appointed a
second lieutenant
in the
2nd U.S. Dragoons
.
[1]
He was promoted to 1st lieutenant on May 14, 1861.
[1]
On August 3, 1861, Rodenbough was transferred to the
2d U.S. Cavalry Regiment
as the 2nd US Dragoons were renamed the 2nd US Cavalry.
[1]
He was promoted to captain, U.S. Army, July 17, 1862.
[1]
Rodenbough was captured at the
Battle of Second Bull Run
on August 31, 1862 and exchanged on September 20, 1862.
[1]
He served in the campaigns of the
Army of the Potomac
, and as a
Regular Army
captain commanded the 2nd U.S. Cavalry during the
Gettysburg Campaign
.
[1]
Gettysburg Campaign
A monument dedicated to the regulars of the United States Army who fought at Gettysburg includes Rodenbough.
[2]
The
Gettysburg Campaign
was a series of engagements before and after the
Battle of Gettysburg
. To better understand Rodenbough's role within the military organization, the following brief is provided. For more details, see
Gettysburg Union order of battle
.
[3]
The Army of the Potomac was initially under Major General
Joseph Hooker
then under Major General
George G. Meade
on June 28, 1863.
The Cavalry Corps was commanded by Major General
Alfred Pleasonton
, with divisions commanded by Brigadier Generals
John Buford
,
David McM. Gregg
, and
H. Judson Kilpatrick
.
[3]
Division
Brigade
Regiments and Others
First Division:
BG
John Buford
(2,748)
Reserve Brigade:
BG
Wesley Merritt
6th Pennsylvania Cavalry
: Maj James H. Haseltine
1st U.S. Cavalry
: Capt Richard S. C. Lord
2nd U.S. Cavalry: Capt Theophilus F. Rodenbough
5th U.S. Cavalry
: Capt Julius W. Mason
6th U.S. Cavalry
: Maj
Samuel H. Starr
, Lt
Louis H. Carpenter
, Lt
Nicholas Nolan
, Capt
Ira W. Claflin
Medal of Honor
Rodenbough received the Medal of Honor for his efforts in the June 11, 1864
Battle of Trevilian Station
, Virginia, where he was wounded.
[4]
Rodebough lost his right arm in the
Battle of Opequon
, or Third Battle of Winchester, Virginia, on September 19, 1864.
[1]
He briefly served as colonel of the 18th Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry Regiment between April 29, 1865 and October 31, 1865.
[1]
Post Civil War
Rodenbough was mustered out of the volunteer force on October 31, 1865.
[1]
On January 13, 1866,
President
Andrew Johnson
nominated Rodenbough for appointment to the
brevet
grade of
brigadier general
of volunteers, to rank from March 13, 1865, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on March 12, 1866.
[5]
On July 28, 1866, Rodenbough was promoted to major, USA, and assigned to the 42nd U.S. Infantry Regiment.
[1]
On July 18, 1868, President Johnson nominated Rodenbough for appointment to the brevet grade of brigadier general, U.S. Army (
regular army
), to rank from March 13, 1865, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on July 18, 1868.
[6]
Rodenbough was unassigned after March 15, 1869.
[1]
Retirement
Rodenbough retired in 1870 as a
colonel
.
[1]
Afterwards, he was occupied as an author and as an employee of the Soldiers' Home in
Washington, D.C.
, and in
New York State
.
He was the author of:
From Everglade to Cañon with the Second Dragoons
(1875)
Afghanistan and the Anglo-Russian Dispute
(1885)
Uncle Sam's Medal of Honor
(1886)
Sabre and Bayonet
(1897)
Together with
William L. Haskin
he was the editor of
The Army of the United States
(1896)
[7]
On April 23, 1904, Rodenbough was appointed brigadier general, USA, on the retired list.
[1]
Theophilus Francis Rodenbough is interred at Easton Cemetery in Easton, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.
[8]
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and Organization:
Captain, 2d U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Trevlhan Station, Va., June 11, 1864. Entered service at: Pennsylvania. Born: November 5, 1838, Easton, Pa. Date of issue: September 21, 1893.
Citation:
Handled the regiment with great skill and valor, was severely wounded.
[9]
[10]