(1819-1892) Union brigadier general who led the St. John's River expedition, later fighting at Missionary Ridge and Atlanta and losing 38 percent of his command while holding the last Union position on Horseshoe Ridge at Chickamauga. Good association and content, war-date A.L.S., 1p. 4to., ‘Hd Qrs St John’s River Expedition’, Oct. 13, 1862, to U.S. Navy captain Sylvanus W. Godon, whom Brannan incorrectly addresses as commodore and commander of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Brannan writes from aboard the steam transport BEN DEFORD, days after his victory at the Battle of St. John’s Bluff, in full: ‘I left St John’s River Fla. yesterday morning – I would most respectfully inform you that the Gun Boats in that River are very much in need of coal – I turned over to [U.S. Navy] Capt. [actually commander Charles] Steedman Comdg the Fleet, 170 tons of coal, without which he would have been unable to operate – I would therefore suggest, most respectfully, that a Cargo of Coal be sent to St John’s River as soon as practicable.’ He signs ‘Wm. Brannan’ at the conclusion in black ink, adding his rank ‘Brig Genl. Comd’. Shows original mailing folds, with mounting remnants to the verso, some paper loss to the right edge where removed fro the mount, and mild toning to the top edge, else in very good overall condition.