President Abraham Lincoln Appoints Union Brevet Brigadier General Martin Flood to the Veteran Reserve Corps

Born in Massachusetts, Flood moved to central Wisconsin when that territory became a state in 1848 and took up farming. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he joined the 3rd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, originally as a captain but rising in rank and finally being commissioned a lieutenant colonel near the end of his term. This regiment became a major battle unit, and Flood fought with it in the battles of Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Brandy Station, and Gettysburg. He did not re-enlist for another term of service with the 3rd Wisconsin when his term ended in early 1864.

The book “Civil War Diaries” recounts the history of the 3rd Wisconsin, specifically mentioning Flood and his role when the regiment left for the scene of war. “Then there was to be a flag presentation to the company, and a sword presentation to Capt. Martin Flood by the ladies, all of which occurred interspersed with brief speeches, songs, band music, cheers from the boys and tears from the mothers, daughters, wives and sweethearts there assembled. Judge Benjamin Dunwiddie made the presentation speeches, an eloquent patriotic address, in the presence of 1000 people. Captain Flood responded…”

The Veteran Reserve Corps was established in 1863 for soldiers who had been discharged from service because of wounds, disease contracted in the line of duty, or expiration of their terms of enlistment, but who wanted to continue service and were still fit for garrison or other light duty. Flood wanted to provide additional service, and he joined the 18th Veterans Reserve Corps and served at Burnside Barracks in Indiana. On June 20, 1864, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and assigned to the 15th Veteran Reserve Corps, which served in the District of Illinois. On March 13, 1865, he was made a brevet brigadier general "for faithful and meritorious services."

Document signed, on vellum, with patriotic engravings of an eagle, flags and military scenes, Washington, August 1, 1864, appointing Flood “Lieutenant Colonel in the Veteran Reserve Corps”. The appointment was retroactively made effective as of June 20, 1864. It comes with Flood’s appointments signed by the Secretary of War and the Governor of Wisconsin, Flood’s Statement of Military Service and Certificate of Service, and the two presentation speeches for the flag and sword addressed to him and his unit mentioned in the book “Civil War Diaries”. We obtained this grouping directly from General Flood's descendants, and it has never before been offered for sale.

When the war ended, Flood became the resident agent of the Freedmen's Bureau in northwestern Louisiana. In a letter dated November 30, 1866, he discussed a series of challenges that confronted those who were charged with responsibility for the reconstruction of the South. They included severe flooding, poor cotton crops, severe poverty among the freedmen, and a threatening white population. From 1868 to 1871, he was President of the New Orleans Board of Public Works.