Commission to Lieutenant Colonel of the 36th PA Infantry, 7th Regiment PA Volunteer Reserve Corps for LeGrand B. Speese / Sold

Commission of LeGrand B. Speese, to Lieutenant Colonel of the 36th PA Infantry, 7th Regiment PA Volunteer Reserve Corps - Inventory Number: DOC 090 / Sold

Commission on vellum filled out in ink for Legrand B. Speese appointing him Lieutenant Colonel for “gallant and meritorious actions in the battle of the Wilderness, Virginia." On the "thirteenth day of March 1865."  Commission is in a modern mat and frame that measures approximately 23 5/8" h x 19 3/4".  Document has spread-winged eagle in a cloud at top and panoply of flags at bottom.  

The date of the commission is dated 10 September 1866 and bears the signatures of President Andrew Johnson and Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. Johnson's signature is printed and not done by hand. President Johnson hurt his arm in a fall not long after taking office and most of his commissions have printed signatures. Stanton's signature is handwritten. 

The overall condition of the document is very good. It is clean and bright with the printed wording being very clear. There is also a blue government seal still attached at top left. The document also has one vertical and five horizontal fold lines.  We currently have two CDV's of Legrand B. Speese available for purchase, PRVC 049 and PRVC 053, which would make for an excellent display!

Major LeGrand B. Speese -  Seventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps. Speese was from Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania when he enlisted in Company F, 7th PA Reserves.  When his regiment arrived on the battlefield at the Wilderness Battle in May 1864, it became surrounded and was captured nearly in it's entirety. Colonel Bolinger and Major Speese were the two officers who bore the unfortunate circumstances of having to surrender the regiment.

LeGrand B. Speese:

Residence Luzerne County PA;

Enlisted on 6/13/1861 as a Captain.

On 6/13/1861 he was commissioned into "F" Co. PA 36th Infantry

He was discharged on 3/12/1865

He was listed as:

* POW 5/5/1864 Wilderness, VA (Confined at Macon, GA & Columbia, SC)

Promotions:

* Major 7/25/1863

* Lt Colonel 3/13/1865 by Brevet

Intra Regimental Company Transfers:

* 7/25/1863 from company F to Field & Staff

(Signed Petition Complaining of Camp Sorghum Conditions)

PENNSYLVANIA THIRTY-SEVENTH INFANTRY  (Three Years)

Thirty-seventh Infantry. - Cols., George S. Hays, Silas M. Bailey; Lieut.-Cols., S. Duncan Oliphant, William Lemon; Majs., J.  B. Gardner, J. W. Duncan, S. M. Bailey, Robert E. Johnston, George S. Gallupe.  The 37th, the 8th reserve regiment, was organized at Pittsburg and there mustered into the U. S. service for a three years, term on June 28, 1861.  It rendezvoused at Camp Wright, near Pittsburg, until ordered to Washington on July 20, and there encamped until Aug. 2, when it reported to Gen. McCall at Tennallytown and was assigned to the 1st brigade, Pa. reserve corps, under Brig.-Gen. John F. Reynolds.  Winter quarters were established at Langley, Va., and the brigade encamped there from Oct. 9, 1861, to the spring of 1862, when it was attached to the 1st corps and held at Washington until the other troops had embarked for the Peninsula.  Late in May the regiment joined the army and took part in the battle of Mechanicsville, with great loss, and also in the battle of Gaines, mill, but was in reserve at Malvernhill.  In August it joined Gen. Pope's army and shared in the battle of the second Bull Run. Then, under McClellan, it fought at South mountain and Antietam, and was at Fredericksburg under Gen. Burnside.  In all these fierce engagements the 37th fought nobly and became tried and reliable veterans.  In the advance at Fredericksburg the conduct of the command was heroic, but after the day was over only half of the regiment was able to report for duty.  On Feb. 8, 1863, the 37th was ordered with the rest of the reserves to the defenses of Washington for a needed rest, and here it was stationed until April 19, 1864, when it left for the front.  After a week in camp at Bristoe Station it shared in the battle of the Wilderness, and in the subsequent actions of that campaign until May 17, when it was relieved, the veterans and recruits were transferred to the 191st Pa. Infantry, and the remainder ordered home.  The regiment was mustered out at Pittsburg, May 24, 1864.