President Abraham Lincoln Promotes Langdon C. Easton, Who Would Be General William T. Sherman’s Quartermaster General in the Victorious Georgia Campaign

Langdon C. Easton graduated at the U. S. Military Academy in 1838. He served in the Florida and Mexican wars, and during the Civil War. He was Chief Quartermaster of the Army of the Cumberland from December 1863, until May 1864, and of the armies commanded by Major General William T. Sherman from May 4, 1864, until the war’s end, being present during the operations of the campaign from Chattanooga to the taking of Atlanta, and subsequently at the capture of Savannah. On the march from the latter city to Goldsborough, NC, and thence to Washington, DC, via Raleigh and Richmond, General Easton acted in the same capacity. During the war he was brevetted major, lieutenant colonel, colonel, and brigadier general, “for distinguished and important service in the quartermaster’s department in the campaign terminating in the capture of Atlanta, Georgia,” and major general, March 13, 1865, “for meritorious service during the war.”

This is Easton’s commission as major, and obtained by us from the Easton descendants. It has never before been offered for sale. Document signed, with an eagle, stars, flags and cannon, Washington, February 7, 1862, promoting Easton quartermaster with the rank of major. It was his first important promotion, and ended in his acting in the capacity of quartermaster for General William T. Sherman. In 1865 Easton would be cited “for distinguished and important service in the quartermaster’s department in the campaign terminating in the capture of Atlanta, Georgia.” The document is countersigned by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton.

This is a key appointment, as it was issued to the officer who played the role of Sherman’s quartermaster.

We obtained this directly from the Easton descendants and it has never before been offered for sale.