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Offered here is an original Civil War discharge and final-pay certificate issued to Private William Ellis of Company C, 26th New York Volunteer Infantry.
The certificate was issued at Fort Lyon, Virginia, on March 6, 1862, after Ellis was discharged from the Union Army because of “Deafness.” It contains an unusually complete physical and biographical description of the soldier, along with his enlistment, service, pay and discharge information.
SOLDIER DETAILS RECORDED ON THE CERTIFICATE
Name: William Ellis
Rank: Private / Member
Unit: Company C, 26th Regiment, New York Volunteers
Branch: Union Infantry
Birthplace: Rochester, New York
Age: 19 years
Height: Approximately 5 feet 2½ inches
Complexion: Fair
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Dark brown
Civilian occupation: Baker
Place of enlistment: Utica, New York
Place of muster: Elmira, New York
Muster date: May 21, 1861
Term of enlistment: Two years
Service location: Virginia
Reason for discharge: Deafness
Place issued: Fort Lyon, Virginia
Date issued: March 6, 1862
The certificate identifies Captain Edmund R. P. Shurley as commander of Company C and is signed at the bottom by Lieutenant William H. Neill as the officer commanding the company at the time the document was completed.
OFFICIAL RECORD CONFIRMATION
William Ellis appears in the official New York Adjutant General’s roster of the 26th New York Infantry:
“ELLIS, WILLIAM.—Age, 19 years. Enlisted, May 3, 1861, at Utica, to serve two years; mustered in as private, Co. C, May 21, 1861; discharged for disability, March 6, 1862, at Fort Lyon, Va.”
The information in the official roster corresponds precisely with the information recorded on this certificate.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
The 26th New York Volunteer Infantry was organized at Elmira and mustered into federal service on May 21, 1861. The regiment departed New York for Washington, D.C., in June and was subsequently assigned to the defenses of the capital.
During William Ellis’s period of service, the regiment performed duty in Northern Virginia, including at Fort Lyon near Alexandria. Fort Lyon was an important earthwork fortification guarding the southern approaches to Washington.
Ellis served for approximately nine and one-half months before being discharged for disability. He left the regiment before its later combat service at Cedar Mountain, Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.
DOCUMENT TYPE
The printed heading reads:
“CERTIFICATE TO BE GIVEN TO VOLUNTEERS AT THE TIME OF THEIR DISCHARGE TO ENABLE THEM TO RECEIVE THEIR PAY, &c.”
This was a working military pay and discharge document rather than a later commemorative certificate. In addition to the soldier’s personal description and service history, it records his last payment date, clothing allowance and other final-accounting information. Period calculations and accounting notations remain visible in the margins and lower portion.
CONDITION
The certificate is more than 160 years old and shows expected evidence of use and storage:
• Original period folds
• General age toning
• Scattered staining and discoloration
• Small tears and fold separations
• Minor edge wear
• Period pencil and accounting notations
• Clear printed text and highly legible handwritten entries
• Strong identification of the soldier, regiment, company, officers, disability and place of discharge
No attempt has been made to clean, flatten, repair or otherwise alter the document.
A particularly desirable and researchable Union Army document associated with a named New York soldier and the defenses of Washington. It would make an excellent addition to a Civil War manuscript, New York military, Fort Lyon, Alexandria, medical-discharge or Union Army collection.
The buyer will receive the exact original document shown in the photographs. Please review all images carefully before purchasing.
