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 Summary: Lincoln promotes Mexican War hero and future superintendent of West Point.
LINCOLN, ABRAHAM and STANTON, EDWIN M. Document Signed “Abraham Lincoln” as President and “Edwin M. Stanton” as Secretary of War, June 12, 1862, 1 p on vellum, with engravings of eagle and colors and equipment and with blue wafer seal of the War Office. 15¾ x 19½”.
Inventory #1097 SOLD
In this 1862 military commission, Zealous Bates Tower, who was highly decorated for his service during the Mexican War, was appointed brigadier general of volunteers by Lincoln. Soon after, he was gravely wounded in the Battle of Second Manassas while leading a brigade under Brigadier General James B. Ricketts.
“...That reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity, and abilities of Zealous B. Tower, I have nominated, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint him Brigadier General of Volunteers.”
Historical Background:
Zealous Bates Tower graduated from West Point at the top of his class in 1841. During the Mexican War he quickly won three brevets for gallantry while serving on the staff of General Winfield Scott. At the start of the Civil War, he served as chief engineer for the defenses of Fort Pickens, Florida. With this commission Lincoln promoted him to brigadier general of volunteers. In the Northern Virginia Campaign of August 1862, he fought at Cedar Mountain and Thoroughfare Gap before an injury in the Battle of Second Manassas left him incapacitated and unfit for further field service.
In July 1864 Tower was appointed superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy. In September he was sent to strengthen the defenses of Nashville, playing a key role in the defeat of General John Bell Hood’s Army of Tennessee.
Zealous Bates Tower (1819-1900) was born in Cohasset, Massachusetts. He entered the Military Academy in 1837 and graduated in 1841, ranking first in his class. Tower was commissioned as an engineer officer and won the brevets of first lieutenant, captain, and major for gallantry during the Mexican War. Before the Civil War, Tower performed engineering duty on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. After serving at Fort Pickens in the early part of the war, he was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers on June 12, 1862. He directed a brigade of Ricketts’ division of McDowell’s corps during the campaign of Second Manassas. Following his injury at Manassas and service at West Point and Nashville, Tower was brevetted major general in both the regular and volunteer forces. Later, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel of engineers (1865) and then to colonel (1874). Tower retired from the service in 1883.
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