Beschreibung:

Lot of 30 documents related to Captain William L. Best of Company G, 16th New York Volunteers. Includes muster rolls, invoices, allotment rolls, absence and return reports, inventories and transfer lists, return of ordnance and ordnance store reports, and general correspondence. Primarily pre-printed and hand-filled, though some are entirely handwritten. Of particular interest are seven documents signed by General Newton M. Curtis (1835-1910), wounded four times with two wartime brevets and recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1893 for his actions at Fort Fisher, NC, 1865; one document signed by Brevet Brigadier General Joel J. Seaver (1822-1899); and one document signed by Indian War General George Morton Randall (1841-1918). Best enlisted at the age of 26 on May 15, 1861 as a second lieutenant in Albany, NY. He was commissioned into Company G of the 16th New York and was twice promoted, ultimately attaining the rank of captain, before mustering out on June 3, 1863. His regiment left New York for Washington, DC on June 27, 1861 and after fighting at the Battle of Bull Run that July, fulfilled defensive duties around Washington until the spring of 1862. On April 22, the 16th New York was ordered to the Virginia Peninsula, where its members participated in the Siege of Yorktown, West Point, Gaines Mill, Savage Station, and Malvern Hill. Action resumed that fall with the Maryland Campaign, and the regiment remained on duty in Maryland until late October of 1862. From there, Best and his comrades saw action at both Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville before the expiration of term. In total, 5 of the regiment's officers and 106 of its enlisted men were killed or received mortal wounds, while another 86 succumbed to disease during service. Condition: Condition of individual documents varies. Many with expected creasing, some with toning and loss at edges.