OLIVER OTIS HOWARD AND THOMAS H. RUGER An important pair of related autograph items includes: OLIVER OTIS HOWARD (1830-1909) Union major general and Medal of Honor winner who led his division at Chancellorsville Fredericksburg and was senior commander at Gettysburg T.L.S. with initialed postscript on Lincoln Memorial University letterhead 1p. 4to. Burlington Vt. Nov. 27 1907 to the widow of THOMAS H. RUGER (1833-1907) Union brigadier general who fought at Antietam Chancellorsville and led a division at Gettysburg. While serving on the school's board of directors and preparing to write a biographical sketch of the recently deceased Gen. Ruger for West Point graduates Howard writes to Ruger's widow requesting: ""...a transcript of his record . . . and if you will tell me anything concerning him. . . . I would like to get also any brief incidents that are characteristic of my classmate and friend. . . . I did not know of Gen. Ruger's death until I saw a notice of it some time afterward in a newspaper..."" Included also is a 10pp. holograph manuscript in Howard's hand in pencil clearly a draft of his biographical sketch of Ruger. The manuscript includes description of battles in which Ruger participated excerpts from battle reports including Harpers Ferry and Antietam and continues describing events in his life until his death in 1907. Very good. Howard and Ruger had been classmates at West Point both graduating in 1854. They then served as Union major generals during the Civil War. After the war Howard a very religious man served as Freedmen's Bureau commissioner for nine years. Ruger later served as the military academy's superintendent from 1871-1876 with Howard serving in the same capacity from 1881-82. Very good.