SIGNED CIVIL WAR SIOUX INDIAN WIA MJR JOHN TAFFE NEBRASKA TERRITORY 2ND CAV REG

Description

INVREF#CL4-17
JOHN TAFFE
(1827 – 1881)
CIVIL WAR WIA MAJOR IN THE FIELD & STAFF OD THE 2
nd
NEBRASKA CAVALRY REGIMENT 1862-1863
Biography of Major John Taffee
John Taffe
(January 30, 1827 – March 14, 1881) was a
Nebraska
Republican
politician.
He was born in
Indianapolis, Indiana
on January 30, 1827. He passed the bar and moved to the
Nebraska Territory
in 1856, becoming a member of the Nebraska Territorial House of Representatives from 1858 to 1859 and as the President of the Nebraska Territorial Council in 1860 and 1861.
During the
American Civil War
, he enlisted and served as Major in the Second Regiment of the Nebraska Volunteer Cavalry. Originally named Captain of Company "I", he was promoted to Major Jan 24, 1863, joining the Field Officers of the entire regiment.
He returned to
Omaha, Nebraska
, where he was elected to the
Fortieth United States Congress
from Nebraska. He was re-elected two times serving from March 4, 1867 to March 3, 1873. During the
Forty-second United States Congress
, he was the chairman on the
U.S. House Committee on Territories
.
***
The present-day state of Nebraska was still a territory of the United States during the American Civil War. It did not achieve statehood until March 1867, two years after the war ended. Nevertheless, Nebraska contributed significantly to the Union war effort***
He resumed his practice of law, becoming receiver of the public land office in
North Platte, Nebraska
, where he died March 14, 1881. He is buried in
Prospect Hill Cemetery
in Omaha, NE (Lot 472).
Second Cavalry
NEBRASKA
(9 MONTHS)
Second Cavalry. -- Col.,R. W. Furnas; Lieut.-Col., William F.
Sapp;: Majs., George Armstrong, John Taffe, John W. Pearman.
This regiment, recruited from the state at large, rendezvoused
at Omaha, and was there mustered into the U. S. service from
Oct. 23, 1862, to March 24, 1863, for nine months.  It was
mustered out by companies at different dates from Sept. 4 to
Dec. 23, 1863, on the expiration of its term of service.
During its year of active duty it rendered efficient service
against the Indians.  The regiment was called into being on
account of the grave menace to the pioneer settlers of the
territory, occasioned by numerous bands of hostile Indians,
who had been plundering and capturing the settlers of western
Minnesota during the summer and fall of 1862 and threatened to
cross the Missouri river, to continue their depredations in
Nebraska.
Through the vigorous initiative of Acting-Gov. A. S. Paddock,
the regiment was soon organized and in the field. On June 20,
1863, Co. D had a fight with the Indians at the Pawnee
reservation, losing 1 killed and 2 wounded.
In the latter part of Aug., 1863, as a part of Gen. Alfred
Sully's northwestern expedition, it left the mouth of the
Little Cheyenne River in search of the enemy.  On Sept. 3, the
scouts of the expedition reported 600 Indian lodges about 10
miles distant.  Preparations were hastily made to attack them
the same night, and the bloody battle of White Stone Hill
ensued, the strength of the Indians being estimated at about
1,000 warriors.
Both officers and men of the 2nd behaved with great gallantry,
resisting several desperate charges, and finally driving the
enemy in headlong flight from the field.  Col. Furnas
estimated their loss in killed was not less than 150, and
their wounded at twice that number.  He reported his own loss
as 7 killed, 14 wounded and 10 missing.
The Indians in their hasty flight abandoned all their tents,
clothing and supplies of every sort and only the exhausted
condition of both men and horses of the regiment saved them
from further pursuit and punishment at the hands of the
gallant 2nd.  The victory gained at White Stone Hill was
entirely due to the coolness and courage of the regiment and
came as a fitting close to a hard and toilsome campaign of
several months.
Soon after this battle its term of service expired and the
command returned to Omaha.  On its departure it received the
warmest commendation from Brig.-Gen. Sully for its valuable
services.
US REPUBLICAN PARTY CONGRESSMAN FROM NEBRASKA 1867-1873,
MEMBER OF THE NE TERRITORIAL HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1858-1859
&
PRESIDENT OF THE NE TERRITORIAL COUNCIL 1860-1861
While Major in the 2
nd
Nebraska Cavalry, Taffe participated in General Sully’s Dakota Territory Expedition against the Sioux Indians and the bloody Battle of White Stone Hill, in which the regiment under Colonel Furnas received the hearty commendation of the general commanding.  Later in the war, in 1864, Taffe served in a mounted militia that was formed in Omaha and he was Captain of “B” Company. Taffe was also the founder of the Omaha Public Library and was one of the early editors of the “
Republican
” newspaper.
HERE’S TAFFEE’S CIVIL WAR ERA SIGNATURE REMOVED FROM A 19
th
CENTURY AUTOGRAPH ALBUM and SIGNED:
“John Taffee,
Omaha,
Neb.”
NOTE:
The document is signed on the verso by
BRADFORD NEWCOMB STEVENS
(1813-1885)
US DEMOCRATIC PARTY CONGRESSMAN FROM ILLINOIS 1871-1873
&
MAYOR OF TISKILWA, IL
A RARE & Excellent Piece of Nebraska “
Civil War Officers in Blue
” Military and Political History to add to your Autograph, Manuscript & Ephemera Collection!
The document measures 5¼” x 3¾” and is in Very Fine, clean Condition.
Provenance of the Signature Origin
Member of the Universal Autograph Collectors Club (UACC), The Ephemera Society of America, the Manuscript Society and the American Political Items Collectors (APIC) (member name: John Lissandrello). Subscribed to each organizations' code of ethics and
authenticity is guaranteed
. ~Providing quality service and historical memorabilia online for over twenty years.