War period endorsement signed

Earned the "Thanks of Congress" for his heroic exploits during the capture of Fort Fisher, North Carolina in 1865!

(1827-90) Born in Hartford, Connecticut, he attended Yale Law School, became a lawyer, and served as clerk of the Superior Court of New Haven County, Conn. Terry was one of those rare militia officers who rose to eminence in the volunteer ranks during the Civil War and remained in the Regular Army after the war to earn the rank of major general. He fought at the 1st battle of Bull Run, Va., in command of the 2nd Connecticut Infantry, a 90 day unit that he raised. He then recruited the elite 7th Connecticut Infantry, taking part with them in the capture of Port Royal, S.C., and the siege and capture of Fort Pulaski, Ga. Appointed brigadier general, he served in the various operations against Charleston, S.C. until the fall of 1863 when he was transferred to General Benjamin F. Butler's Army of the James, taking over command of the 10th Corps. During 1864, he served in the campaigns against Richmond and Petersburg, Va., and in early 1865 he commanded the forces that captured Fort Fisher, N.C., thus sealing off the Confederacy's last port, Wilmington, N.C. For this exploit he received the "Thanks of Congress." His forces were then attached to General John M. Schofield's Army of the Ohio, with which it operated in conjunction with General William T. Sherman until the Confederate surrender. During his post war army career, Terry served mainly in Indian Territory, and he helped to negotiate the Treaty of Fort Laramie in 1868, which ended "Red Cloud's campaign" against United States troops in the territory. He was in charge of the Department of Dakota at the time of the famous battle of the Little Big Horn in 1876. Five companies of Custer's 7th U.S. Cavalry were annihilated with Custer among the 268 men killed. During this battle General Terry was in personal command of the various columns engaged in the field, including that of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer. Much controversy arose at the time as to whether Custer had exceeded Terry's orders; but Terry refused to comment on the matter. In October 1877, he went to Canada to negotiate with "Sitting Bull," and he was still in command in Montana during the Nez Perce War and he sent reinforcements to intercept "Chief Joseph." As the great Northern Pacific Railway was building their transcontinental line across Montana in 1881, the new town of Terry, Montana was named in General Terry's honor. He was promoted to major general in 1886, and named commander of the Military Division of the Missouri. He retired from the U.S. Army on April 5, 1888, and died in New Haven, Conn., on December 16, 1890. He is buried in Grove Street Cemetery, New Haven, which is surrounded by the Yale College campus.

War period endorsement signed: 3 1/8 x 3, partly imprinted form, filled out in ink. Head Quarters Dep't Virginia (and North Carolina which has been crossed out in red ink), (Fort Monroe has also been crossed out in red ink) and written above it is Richmond, Va., July 18th, 1865. Approved- The disposition within recommended will be made. Alfred H. Terry, Major Genl. Commanding. Written on the reverse is "Eleven Canteens." General Terry is a very desirable autograph for his heroic deeds during the Civil War and Indian War.