Judah Benjamin
Richmond, VA, September 30, 1861
Judah Benjamin War-Dated Appointment For 1st Confed Wounded in Civil War!
Partially printed DS

A partially-printed military appointment signed by Judah P. Benjamin, "J. P. Benjamin", as Acting Confederate Secretary of War. 1p, measuring 7.75" x 10", Richmond, VA, September 30, 1861. The document names J. W. Ratchford, possibly the first Confederate soldier wounded in the Civil War, a Major in the Adjutant General's Department. Together with a contemporaneous portrait carte de visite of Benjamin, produced by E. Anthony's New York Studio. Document exhibits uneven toning and areas of light spot staining throughout. Intermittent creasing and handling marks present. Minor paper loss in the upper right. CDV has been clipped in the lower left, with darkened soiling throughout. Else, very good.

James Wylie Ratchford (1840-1910) enlisted as a Lieutenant in the First North Carolina Regiment under General Daniel Harvey Hill, his former superintendent at the North Carolina Military Academy. It was under Hill's command that Ratchford participated in the Battle of Big Bethel on June 10, 1861, where he was wounded in the forehead. At the same battle, Private Henry L. Wyatt became the first Confederate casualty of the Civil War, possibly placing Ratchford as the first enlisted soldier wounded. He was later wounded again at the Battle of Seven Pines in the summer of 1862.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 7.75" x 10"
  • Medium: Partially printed DS

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