Jump to content

Baton carried by General Graham as Grand Marshal of the Philadelphia “Boys in Blue” parade


Recommended Posts

Charles Kinnard Graham, was born in the Ninth Ward, New York City, on June 3, 1824. In 1841 he was appointed midshipman in the United States Navy and served in the Gulf of Mexico during the Mexican War. After the war he studied both law and civil engineering. In 1857 he was appointed constructing engineer of the Brooklyn Navy Yard where he supervised construction of the city docks and landings. Graham also helped plan New York City’s Central Park. In 1861, when the Civil War broke out, he joined the 74th New York Infantry Regiment, together with 400 other men employed in the navy yards. He subsequently became Colonel of the Excelsior Brigade, and through the early portion of the war was actively engaged in the Army of the Potomac. On the Peninsula he was at Yorktown, Seven Pines and the Seven Days Battles. For health reasons he was then assigned to recruiting duty in New York. Returning to duty in the field early in 1863, he led a brigade at Chancellorsville and succeeded to temporary command of the division. During the Battle of Gettysburg Graham's brigade defended the Union position along the Emmitsburg Road, particularly the area of the Peach Orchard. He was wounded in the hip and shoulders and taken prisoner by the Confederates. He was sent to a prison camp in Richmond, Virginia until he was exchanged on September 19, 1863. Upon his recovery he was assigned to the command of the gunboats on the James River under command of Gen. Benjamin F. Butler. Graham led the Naval Brigade during the First Battle of Fort Fisher. Graham was put in commanded the defenses of Bermuda Hundred and later the garrison of Norfolk, Virginia. Graham was brevetted Major General of Volunteers on March 13, 1865. After the war Graham was Chief Engineer of the Dock Department of the New York Harbor from 1873 till 1875, and Surveyor of the Port of New York from 1878 to 1883. Charles Kinnard Graham died in Lakewood, New Jersey on April 15, 1889.

 This baton was carried by Graham as Grand Marshal of the “Boys in Blue” parade in Philadelphia on October 2, 1868. The medallion on the baton is a political campaign item from the Ulysses S. Grant and Schuyler Colfax presidential campaign of 1868. 

baton-top.jpg

baton-full-length.jpg

engraving.jpg

Grant-and-Colfav-medallion.jpg

Graham-best-hi-rez.jpg

Boys-in-Blue-Harpers-1868.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...