Civil War-dated manuscript document, one page, 7.75 x 6.75, May 3, 1864. Addressed from “Camp 83rd Regt. N.Y.S. Vols.,” a pass from Captain John J. Van Alst, Jr., directing “Guards & Patrols of Guards will pass bearer (Priv. W. A. Jenkins) to Brandy Station and return for the purpose of visiting his Father. This pass will expire this P. M.” Signed below by Van Alst and countersigned by Joseph A. Moesch, “Coln. Comdg. Regt." The reverse bears endorsements from Union officers John C. Robinson (“Jno. C. Robinson, Brig. Genl. Comd’g Division”), Richard Coulter (“R. Coulter, Col. Comdg. Brigade”), and A.J. Marvin, Jr., “By Command of Maj. Genl. [Gouverneur K.] Warren.” In very good to fine condition, with scattered staining.
All of these men would soon be dramatically affected by the imminent battles of Grant's Overland Campaign: Colonel Joseph A. Moesch of the heavily engaged 83rd New York Infantry was killed in action at the Wilderness on May 6th, just three days after signing the pass, and Private Jenkins was captured there on the same day; both Coulter and Robinson were brevetted for gallantry at the Wilderness and Spotsylvania, the latter receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor for the heroic charge of his division in Warren's 5th Corps on May 8th at Laurel Hill, where 83rd New York Captain Van Alst was wounded.
