“On July 2, 1863, during the fight for east Cemetery Hill, a Confederate shell had exploded in front of Pvt. John F. Chase, 5^th Maine Artillery.  Forty-eight metal fragments shattered his left arm, damaged his eye, and inflicted many other wounds.  Presumed dead, Chase was being taken in a wagon for burial when a sudden bump jolted him back to consciousness.  After recovering from the initial shock at having one of his passengers sit up and ask, “Did we win?” the driver quickly took Chase to an Army surgeon.  The artilleryman survived to become one of the battlefield’s early guides.” (American Heritage, April 1994)  Prior to Gettysburg, Chase won the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroism on 5/3/1863 at the battle of Chancellorsville.  This lot consists of a 2 page letter that Chase writes on April 18, 1862 written from Washington, D.C.  The stationary shows a fine picture of the just finished United States Capital and Chase writes in a very colorful red ink!  Chase signs the letter in full “John F. Chase 5^th Maine Battery, Washington D.C.”  With the letter is Chase’s calling card from when he was a lecturer at the famous battle of Gettysburg Cyclorama.  This card shows a picture of Chase with his 48 wounds!  Both the letter and calling card are in excellent condition.  This is the first Chase letter we have ever seen and the nicest Chase calling card.

# S8 - Pair $695