1865 CLARA BARTON. Superb Autograph Letter as Head of Office of Missing Soldiers of the Union Army.

An excellent and very attractive signed lithographed letter in the hand of Clara Barton, in her capacit as head of the Office of Missing Soldiers at the close of the Civil War. Autograph material in any way connected to her Civil War service is rare.

Clara Barton (1821-1912) worked as a nurse on the front lines during the Civil War and distributed medicine and food to wounded soldiers in close proximity to the battles of Cedar Mountain, Second Bull Run, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. In 1864, General Benjamin Butler placed her in charge of hospitals at the front of the Army of the James. For her Civil War service, Barton became known as the "Angel of the Battlefield" and the "Florence Nightingale of America." When the war ended, she ran the Office of Missing Soldiers in Washington, helping to locate the remains of more than 22,000 missing soldiers. 

Washington, June 19, 1865.

Dear Sir:

Your communication of June 17 is received, and the name of Levis Miller will be placed upon my lists. It will constitute my most earnest endeavor to bring these lists within the notice of returned prisoners everywhere.

Be assured that as soon as any information of interest to yourself is gained, it will be most promptly and cheerfully forwarded to you.

Very sincerely yours,
Clara Barton

With original envelope