Description
Pair of post war items pertaining to 1st lieutenant William Leontes Curry of the 1st Ohio Cavalry to include an envelope from his time serving as the Commissioner of Soldier’s Claims and calling card. Born in Union County, at the first call for troops in the Civil War he enlisted for the three-months service. He was elected first lieutenant and his company and promptly commenced drilling, but the quota for Ohio was filled before the company was mustered into service. Upon the first call for three-years troops, William enlisted as a private in the 1st Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. At its organization he was appointed orderly sergeant, and was promoted successively to second lieutenant, first lieutenant, and captain of his company. He was also, for some time, regimental quarter master. He served through the war with his regiment participating in all the battles of the Army of the Cumberland, including the Siege of Corinth, Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, and the Campaign of the “One Hundred Days Under Fire from Chattanooga to Atlanta.” He was taken prisoner at Courtland, Alabama, in 1862, after a bullet had passed through his hat and cut a groove through his hair. The hat is now on exhibition, with other of his war-time accouterments, in the Museum of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society. After three one one-half years’ service, he was honorably discharged “for injuries received in the line of duty.” in December, 1864. Later he served as assistant adjutant general of Ohio during both of President McKinley’s terms as governor, and also served in the National Guard five years as lieutenant colonel of the Fourteenth Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry. William served as the first Commissioner of Soldiers’ Claims in Ohio and served also as United States Pension Agent. He was president of the Ohio Sons of the Revolution from 1907-1909 and was its secretary until the time of his death in April, 1927.
