William B. Bate (1826-1905), Major General CSA (TN), Shiloh (WIA), Chickamauga, Atlanta campaign, Franklin. Second Governor of Tennessee (1883-87), US Senator from Tenn. (1887-1905).

Autograph Letter Signed (ALS) in very bold pencil on verso Typed Letter Signed (TLS) by Chief Signal Officer, Brigadier General A. W. Greely, 4to., "War Department, Signal Office, Washington, April 22, 1899":

"...I have again recommended Captain Yancey's retention as 2nd Lieutenant in place of one of the officers of the Volunteer Signal Corps who has declined..."

Bate advises Yancey regarding his chances for a position in the reorganization of the department and the difficulties involved because of "political pulls' staked out for all such vacancies..."

Adolhus W. Greely (1844-1935) commanded US expedition (1881) which attained the most northerly point reached up to that time & discovered new land north of Greenland, later attaining the rank of Major General (1906) in charge of relief operations in San Francisco after the earthquake and fire of 1906.

Very fine.