War Date Document Signed

(1827-1894) Born in Carrollton, Illinois, he graduated in the West Point class of 1847 and was assigned to the 3rd U.S. Artillery. He served during the Mexican War under General Winfield Scott, and was later on frontier duty and garrison duty as an assistant to Major George H. Thomas. He was adjutant at the United States Military Academy from 1854 to 1859, under Colonel Robert E. Lee. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he was commanding a battery of light artillery in the defenses of Washington, when he was assigned as chief of staff to General Irvin McDowell serving in the Battle of 1st Bull Run. Afterwards he served as chief of staff under General Don Carlos Buell, in the Army the Ohio, taking part in the battles of Shiloh and Corinth, and the pursuit of General Braxton Bragg's army in Kentucky. Fry was appointed Provost Marshal General of the United States Army, on March 17, 1863, and promoted to rank of brigadier general. General Ulysses S. Grant was quoted as saying that General Fry was the officer best fitted to handle the position. General James B. Fry was brevetted to brigadier general, and major general, in the Regular U.S. Army, for faithful, meritorious, gallant and distinguished service during the Civil War. After the war Fry remained on active duty in the Regular U.S. Army, and served as the adjutant general of the Division of the Pacific, and as adjutant general of the Department of the East, until his retirement from the Army on July 1, 1881. General Fry died in Newport, Rhode Island, and was buried at the Church of St. James the Less in Philadelphia.

War Date Document Signed: 8 x 10, in ink, on imprinted letter sheet.

Paymaster General's Office,
Jany. 27, 1863

The Adjutant General will please state the date of Major Levi C. Turner, Judge Advocate acceptance.

H.J. Brooke

Adjutant General's Office,
February 6, 1863

Accepted the 31st day of July 1863.

J.B. Fry
Assistant Adjutant General

Light age toning, light edge and fold wear. Very fine. Please note that the dark spots you see on the web site illustration are not as dark on the original document. They were caused by the scanner.