James Buchanan Promotes Midshipman From Reserved List to Active Duty

1p of vellum, measuring 14.5" x 17.5", Washington, D.C., dated January 27, 1858. A naval appointment signed "James Buchanan" as President and countersigned "Isaac Toucey" as Secretary of War. The document appoints "Edward C. Grafton, a Passed Midshipman on the Reserved List… Lieutenant in the Navy…on the Active List." With naval and patriotic motifs at the top and bottom margins. Orange paper seal adhered to the lower center margin. With flattened folds and slightly curled edges. Light uneven toning and soiling throughout. Boldly signed.

Edward Clark Grafton (1829-1876) was a Midshipman at Annapolis, graduating in 1848. He was further promoted to Lieutenant Commander in July 1862. As the war dragged on, Grafton served as the Flag Officer on the "Minnesota" when the Merrimac attempted to break the blockade in the James River and played an active part in the following engagement that occurred in Hampton Roads. He was then placed in command of the steam gunboat "Genesee" and participated in the bombardment of Fort Morgan at Mobile Bay. After the war, he was given command of the "Gettysburg" in 1868, which was part of the North Atlantic squadron. He finally retired in early 1871.

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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