This letter was written by the man who designed the Confederate Battle Flag, William Porcher Miles.  The letter is written to President Buchanan for the Appointment of a South Carolina Marine.  Miles (1822-1899) was a United States Representative from South Carolina born in Charleston.  He attended Wellington School in Charleston and graduated from the College of Charleston in 1842, where he studied law.  He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Charleston.  While serving in the Confederate Provisional Congress, he chaired the “Committee on the Flag and Seal,” which adopted the “Stars and Bars” flag as the national flag of the Confederacy.  Miles himself favored his own design, which although rejected by the committee, eventually became the Confederate Battle Flag today known simply as “the Confederate flag”!

Manuscript Letter Signed by: “J. H. Hammond”

 “A. P. Kaynes”

 “Wm. Porcher Miles”

 “Lawrence M. Keith”

   and two others.  

The document is 2 pages, quarto size.  “Washington, May 20, 1858”, addressed to “President Buchanan”, and reads…

“We the undersigned comprising the entire South Carolina delegation respectfully request that you will be pleased to appoint Mr. Henry Laurens Ingraham to the post of 2^nd Lieutenant in the Marine Corps.  He is a son of Capt. Duncan N. Ingraham of the Navy whose character and services are too well known both to your Excellency and the country at large to call for any comment upon them – especially from us his fellow citizens of the same state.  We understand that there has been but one appointment to the Marine service from South Carolina for very many years while some of the States have received two or more appointments.  If our state is to have an appointment at all there is no one we feel well assured better entitled to it than the son of Capt. Ingraham.  In the hope that your Excellency may feel at liberty to comply with our request, now for the second time urged…”

Condition is very fine.

#HC33 - Price $395