Here’s a Document Signed by Civil War General

ROBERT ABBOTT McCOY

(1835 - 1893)

CIVIL WAR UNION BVT BRIGADIER GENERAL “FOR GALLANT CONDUCT AT THE BATTLE OF BETHESDA CHURCH, VIRGINIA,”

BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG, ANTIETAM, FREDERICKSBURG & LIBBY PRISON POW COLONEL and COMMANDER OF THE “HARD-FIGHTING” 11th PENNSYLVANIA INFANTRY RESERVES a/k/a THE 40th PA INFANTRY

-&-

COLONEL ON THE STAFF OF BRIGADIER GENERAL SAMUEL W. CRAWFORD.

Sadly, McCoy committed Suicide in 1893, over the tragic death of his wife and two sons!

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HERE'S A RARE DOCUMENT SIGNED BY McCOY – AN OFFICIAL “LAND DEPARTMENT, COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA” WARRANT FOR LAND CALLED “FAIRFIELD” SITUATED ON THE WATERS OF “CHEST CREEK” IN BEDFORD COUNTY, FOLIO, DATED AT HARRISBURG, OCTOBER 28th, 1869.

ROBERT MCCOY SIGNS THE DOCUMENT AS AGENT ON BEHALF OF “J. M. CAMPBELL” SURVEYOR GENERAL OF PA, CERTIFYING THAT THE DOCUMENT IS A TRUE COPY OF A PATENT RECORDED IN THE OFFICE OF THE SURVEYOR GENERAL OF PENNSYLVANIA IN 1796.

THE DOCUMENT BEARS A RED EMBOSSED SEAL OF THE SURVEYOR GENERAL and IS BOLDLY SIGNED BY McCOY!

THE PIECE MEASURES 17” x 14” AND IS IN VERY FINE CONDITION, WITH SOME SLIGHT FOLD SEPARATIONS, AND PAPER CHIPS.

A RARE ADDITION TO YOUR CIVIL WAR PA MILITARY HISTORY & CIVIL WAR “GENERALS IN BLUE” AUTOGRAPH, MANUSCRIPT & EPHEMERA COLLECTION!

NOTE: The Document comes with the biographical sheets pictured in the listing photos.

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BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF GEN. MCCOY

Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. An attorney residing in Ebensburg, Cambria County, Pennsylvania when the Civil War started, he enlisted in the 11th Pennsylvania Reserves on June 12, 1861, and was mustered in Washington, DC on July 29, 1861 at the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He rose in rank during his service, being promoted to 1st Lieutenant and regimental Adjutant on April 21, 1862, to Major on October 28, 1863, and to Lieutenant Colonel on March 2, 1864. He spent time as an aide on the staff of Brigadier General Samuel W. Crawford, and was captured by Confederate forces, spending time incarcerated at Richmond, Virginia's infamous Libby Prison. Honorably mustered out on June 14, 1864, he was brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers on March 13, 1865 for "gallant conduct at the battle of Bethesda Church, Va."

After the war he served as a bank cashier, and amassed a considerable fortune through investments. Distraught over the deaths of his wife and two sons, he committed suicide in Tyrone, Pennsylvania in 1893.

HISTORY OF THE 11TH PA RESERVES (40TH INFANTRY)

 

     Fortieth Infantry.-Cols., T. F. Gallagher, Samuel M.

Jackson; Lieut.Cols., James R. Porter, Samuel M. Jackson,

Daniel S. Porter, Robert A. McCoy; Majs. S. M. Jackson, Robert

Litzinger, Peter A. Johns, James P. Speer, Robert A. McCoy,

James C. Burke.  The 40th, the 11th reserve regiment, was

composed of men from the western part of the state, who

rendezvoused at Camp Wright, near Pittsburg.  On June 24,

1861, the regiment left camp and proceeded to Harrisburg,

thence to Washington, where it was mustered into the U. S.

service on the 29th and 30th for a three years, term.  In July

it was ordered to the camp of the reserves at Tennallytown,

assigned to the 2nd brigade of the reserve corps and stationed

at Great Falls, where it had a skirmish with the enemy posted

on the other side of the Potomac.  Winter quarters were

established near Langley, Va., and much enthusiasm was aroused

by the victory at Dranesville, though the 2nd brigade arrived

too late to participate.  The regiment served on the Peninsula

in the corps under Gen. Fitz John Porter; was present at the

battles of Mechanicsville, and Gaines, mill, where the

regiment met with disaster, though it held its ground in the

face of the enemy's fire until the troops on both sides were

driven back.  The smoke and the density of the wood in which

the battle raged prevented the troops from observing that they

were being cut off, and when surrounded they endeavored to

fight their way back.  This became impossible and the regiment

was captured after losing 46 men killed and 1O9 wounded.  One

company of the regiment under Capt. Porter, escaped capture,

having been detailed on special duty.  This company,

representing the regiment fought at Glendale and shared in the

second battle of Bull Run attached to the 3rd brigade.  At

South mountain, Antietam and Fredericksburg, the depleted

ranks of the 40th conducted themselves gallantly.  In Feb.

1863, the regiment was ordered to Washington to rest and

recruit.  With the 5th corps it shared in the Gettysburg

campaign, the pursuit of the Confederate army, the skirmishes

at Bristoe and Rappahannock Stations and the Mine Run

campaign.  The reserves were posted on guard duty along the

Orange & Alexandria railroad during the winter of 1863-64, the

40th being encamped at Warrenton Junction and Bristoe Station.

Beginning with the Wilderness, the regiment engaged in the

battles of the Army of the Potomac during May, 1864, its last

engagement being at Bethesda Church, after which the veterans

and recruits were transferred to the 190th Pa. infantry and

the regiment returned to Pittsburg, where it was mustered out

on June 14, 1864.

 

Source: The Union Army, vol. 1

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