Lot 258 email save

Civil War Marine Corps Hero's Signature

A rare postwar Marine Corps signature in clean light brown ink on a small slip of paper measuring 2" x 3" reading, in full: "Very truly yours, C. G. McCawley, Col. Comd't." Col. Charles G. McCawley (1827-1891) was born in Philadelphia. He first entered the Marine Corps in 1847 and was cited for gallantry in storming Chapultapec and for the capture of Mexico City. During the Civil War he helped capture Port Royal, S. C. on Nov. 7, 1861 and also aided in recapturing Norfolk Navy Yard with over 200 Marines in May 1862. After that help took part with a large command Marines in the investment of Charleston Harbor throughout the summer of 1863 and was brevetted major for an unsuccessful amphibious attack upon Fort Sumter on Sept. 8, 1863. In 1876 he was honored by being appointed colonel commandant of the Marine Corps, the highest post offered a Marine, making him the eighth such Marine officer to hold that post. Retiring in 1891 and died soon after and the World War II fighting vessel the USS McCawley is named after him. Fine.

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