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This is a historic and VeryRARE Antique Civil War Early Old CALIFORNIA Military Certificate Document, awarded to a soldier named Anton Ewald, of the \"G\" (Sigel Rifles) First Regiment of Infantry...\" This certificate for promotion was awarded on September 16th, 1863, and hand signed in ink by Leland Stanford, California Governor, A.A.H. Tuttle, Secretary of State (by his Deputy, on his behalf,) and William Kibbe, Adjutant General. This certificate is as rare as hen\'s teeth, as you are likely aware. Very few documents exist which were signed by Governor Leland Stranford, in his role as the eighth Governor of the State of California. Additionally, there are no comparable examples in existence which include both Tuttle and Kibbe\'s signature. The Sigel Rifles were an early California Militia based in the greater San Francisco area, which exited as a military unit from 1861 - 1866. In 1864, their official name was changed to \"Sigel Guard.\" Approximately 17 3/4 x 21 1/2 inches (including frame.) Actual document is approximately 16 1/4 x 20 1/8 inches. Good condition for well over a century of age, with expected edge wear, creasing, spots of soiling, and yellowing - toning to the paper (please see photos.) Additionally, there is some moderate scuffing and edge wear to the original period 19th century frame. This scarce and early piece of Civil War Era California military history is Priced to Sell. I will give favorable consideration to Offers from California museums, and scholastic institutions such as Stanford University. Acquired from an old estate collection in Los Angeles County, California. If you like what you see, I encourage you to make an Offer. Please check out my other listings for more wonderful and unique artworks!
About the California Sigel Rifles Militia:
Sigel Rifles, Company B, 6th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade. San Francisco City & County, 1861–1866
Initially this unit was attached to the 1st Regiment of Infantry, but Feb. 12, 1864 it was transferred to the 2nd Infantry Regiment, and again in August transferred to the 6th Infantry Regiment. During 1864, the name of the company was changed from the Sigel Rifles to the \"Sigel Guard\". Outline History of Calif. National Guard, Vol. 2, pp. 350–351.About Governor Leland Stanford:
Terms: January 10, 1862 - December 10, 1863Party: RepublicanBorn: March 9, 1824Passed: June 21, 1893Birth State: New YorkFamily: Married Jane Elizabeth Lathrop; one child (died from typhoid fever as youth.)National Office(s) Served: Senator
LELAND STANFORD was born on March 9, 1824, in Watervliet, New York. He attended Clinton Liberal Institute, in Clinton, New York, and studied law at Cazenovia Seminary in Cazenovia, New York. Stanford migrated to California in 1852, joining his brothers in their mercantile business. In 1861 he co-founded and became president of the Central Pacific Railroad. He served as justice of the peace in Michigan Bluff and was a delegate to the 1860 Republican National Convention. On September 4, 1861, Stanford was elected Governor of California, and on January 10, 1862, he was sworn into office. During his tenure, he cut the state’s debt in half, and he advocated for the conservation of forests. He approved several public grants, one of which provided financial assistance to a railroad he had a personal interest in, the Central Pacific Railroad. The Normal School was founded in San Francisco, and a constitutional change was enacted lengthening the governor’s term from two years to four. On December 10, 1863, Stanford left office, and returned to his railway businesses. He continued to serve as president of the Central Pacific Railroad until 1893, and of its sister railroad, the Southern Pacific, until 1890. Stanford bestowed $30 million to a university in memory of his only child, who died at the age of 15, of typhoid fever. The university was named Leland Stanford Junior University and is known today as Stanford University. In 1885 Stanford was elected to the U.S. Senate, serving until his death on June 21, 1893. Governor Leland Stanford is buried in a mausoleum on the grounds of Stanford University.
California\'s eighth governor was born Amasa Leland Stanford in 1824. He was a lawyer, a storekeeper, a Justice of the Peace, and an organizer of the Sacramento Library Association. Most notably, Stanford was one of the \"Big Four\" (the other three being Huntington, Hopkins and Crocker) who built the transcontinental railroad which connected the Eastern United States to the West.
As Governor, Stanford made major constitutional changes, sponsored legislative reforms, backed the conservation of forests, and cut the state debt in half. One of the constitutional changes enacted during his term lengthened the governor\'s term in office from two years to four. Consequently, he was the last governor of California to serve a two-year term.
About A.A.H. Tuttle:
Anson A. H.Tuttlewas Tuttletown, California wasnamedfor him.
Born in New York, heremovedto California,wherehebuilta logcabinin 1848 in whatwouldbecomeTuolumneCounty. He was amemberof theCaliforniaStateAssembly, 1858-59. He wasSecretaryofStateofCaliforniain 1863. In 1866 he was California State Treasurer.
Tuttle died of lung hemorrhage at the age of 45, while he was visiting Donner Lake to improve his health.
Tuttle isinterredin theSacramentoHistoricCityCemeteryin Sacramento, California.
About William C. Kibbe (Adjutant General):
William Chauncey Kibbe was born in Illinois in 1822. Moved to Brooklyn, working as school teacher. Came to California in 1849 during the Gold Rush. In California, served as Quartermaster-General and Adjutant General from 1852 through Civil War. Returned to Brooklyn where he died in 1904.
William C. Kibbe was born in Illinois in 1822. He moved to New York Cityas a young man, teaching school in Brooklyn.He rose to become Principal of Public School#19. When news of the California Gold Rushcame,he went to California to seek his fortune as a miner. With no success in the mines he turned to politics.
William C. Kibbe was appointed by Governor John McDougal as California\'s third Quartermaster General in June 1852, and after William H. Richardson resigned, due to the provisions of the Militia Law of 1852 became the Adjutant Generalof California in charge of the California Militia also. He was elected to the office of Adjutant General in 1854.
In 1855, Kibbe wrote a drill manual for the California Militia,The volunteer: containing exercises and movements of infantry, light infantry, riflemen and cavalry, as a drill manual for the California Militia.
In 1858, Kibbe was responsible for organizing the Klamath & Humboldt Expedition led by Captain Isaac G. Messec to fight the Wintoon War of 1858-59against the Whilkut people. In 1859, he oversaw the State of California\'s Pitt River Expedition against the Achomawi and Atsugewi tribes in the vicinity the Pitt River in Northeastern California. He sent Militia units from California to help the settlers in Nevada during the Paiute War.
In May 1861, when the Los Angeles Mounted Rifles absconded with the weapons and equipment of various defunct militia companies in Southern California, blame came to Kibbe. His records under his long tenure of office got into such confusion that the legislature took a hand and tried to unseat him. Governor Leland Stanford kept him in office.
With the advent of mechanized warfare of the shape of the new iron-clads called for new methods of defense. Adjutant General Kibbe in his report of December 3, 1863, to Governor Leland Stanford proposed a novel plan for the protection of San Francisco harbor:
To adequately fortify the harbor, it was proposed to construct revolving iron towers at each side of the Golden Gate. These towers to be one hundred feet in diameter and pierced for two tiers of guns with ample space for thirty guns in each tier. Casemated guns were planned for the foundation of the towers. When the towers were completed, massive chains would be laid across the entrance to the harbor. These chains would be drawn up by windlasses operated by steam engines. The chains would be designed to check the speed of any enemy vessel and bring it under fire of the guns in the towers. Kibbe contended that if the towers could be built and other approaches to the city fortified, the navies of the world could be kept out of the harbor.
Kibbe was replaced by George S. Evans when he was appointed Adjutant General by Governor Frederick Low, May 1, 1864. After the Civil War, Kibbe returned to Brooklyn and held an office in the Hall of records there. He died in January 1904, at his home, 464 Macon Street, in Brooklyn, New York at the age of 82 years.
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