President Abraham Lincoln Appoints a Union Hero Captain and Aide de Camp to General John C. Caldwell

Caldwell wrote of the appointee, Daniel K. Cross, “He was indefatigable, and seconded me in the noblest manner. It was he that reported to General Hancock that the picket line was flanked; that brought to the notice of General Hooker the disgraceful flight on the left of the road… He also reported to General Meade for re-enforcements, and brought back his order. Whatever praise should be awarded to a gallant, intelligent, and indefatigable staff officer is due to him. At Antietam and Fredericksburg he distinguished himself, and has richly earned promotion.”

General John C. Caldwell assumed command of the 1st Brigade of the 1st Division of the Second Corps of the Army of the Potomac in 1862. He participated in all of the great battles of that army, from the sunken road at Antietam to the Wheatfield at Gettysburg, from then until March 1864, when in the army reorganization his command was eliminated. He continued in the army until 1866, a year after Lee’s surrender.

Daniel Kent Cross enlisted in the Union cause in 1861 as a Sgt. Major and quickly rose in rank to Lieutenant. He was soon on Caldwell’s staff, and the General came to rely on him. At Fredericksburg Cross was commended for rescuing his wounded cousin, Col. Edward Cross, from the battlefield. Caldwell wrote of him after Chancellorsville, “To Lieutenant [Daniel K.] Cross, of my staff, something more than a word of passing praise is due. He was indefatigable, and seconded me in the noblest manner. It was he that reported to General Hancock that the picket line was flanked; that brought to the notice of General Hooker the disgraceful flight on the left of the road, which the commanding general at once caused to be checked by cavalry. He also reported to General Meade for re-enforcements, and brought back his order. Whatever praise should be awarded to a gallant, intelligent, and indefatigable staff officer is due to him. At Antietam and Fredericksburg he distinguished himself, and has richly earned promotion.” After Gettysburg, Caldwell’s official report stated, “I would mention as worthy of particular commendation Lieutenant [Daniel K.] Cross…”

The promotion Caldwell spoke of for Cross to act as his  Aide de camp with the rank of Captain took effect in November 1863. President Lincoln, however, did not himself sign the appointment until the following year. This is Cross’s original appointment.

Document signed as President, on vellum, complete with engravings of an eagle, flags, and military accoutrements, Washington, July 1, 1864, appointing Daniel K. Cross “Aide de camp with the rank of Captain,” to “rank as such from Sixth day of November eighteen hundred and Sixty three”. The document is countersigned by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton.

After the war, Cross moved to Colorado and served as Vice Commander of the GAR for that state.