Autograph Letter Signed

Robert H. Hall graduated in the West Point class of 1860. Military service record: brevet 2nd Lieutenant, 5th U.S. Infantry, July 1, 1860; 2nd Lieutenant, 10th U.S. Infantry, Jan. 23, 1861; 1st Lieutenant, June 1, 1861; Captain, Aug. 31, 1863. Brevet Major, Nov. 24, 1863, for gallantry in the battle of Lookout Mountain, Tenn. Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, Aug. 19, 1864, for gallantry, battle of the Weldon R.R., Va. Brigadier General Vols., May 27, 1898. Brigadier General, U.S.A., Feb. 5, 1901.

Autograph Letter Signed: 2 1/2 pages, 5 x 8, in ink.

West Point, N.Y.,
Nov. 22, 1876

Major S.B. Sherer,
35 River St.,
Chicago, Ill.

Dear Sir:

Your question of tactics I have submitted to the authority here in such matters and the decision based upon the spirit of the existing system of infantry tactics and the intention of that system to dispense with all unnecessary rigidity in the move merits opinion as well as of ? is that each of the field officers move to his preceived position when the ranks are opened by the shortest practical route. I am sorry that I failed to meet you when you called here in September last. I have very pleasant recollections of the incidents that occurred when we soldiered together in Lookout Valley some thirteen years ago.

Truly yours,
Robt. H. Hall,
Bvt. Lieut. Col., U.S.A.

Very fine. Nice content. The recipient of this letter was Samuel B. Sherer, who served as Captain and Major in the 15th Illinois Cavalry during the Civil War, and as mentioned by Hall served with him at Lookout Mountain, Tenn. Sherer served as a Brigadier General in the Illinois National Guard in his post war career, and was prominent in G.A.R. affairs.