Description
Colonel James Hervey Simpson of the 4th New Jersey Infantry. Simpson’s military career began in 1838 serving as a Topographical Engineer in the US Army. He would take part in the New Mexico Expedition of 1849 and the Utah Expedition a decade later. During the Civil War, Simpson served as colonel of the 4th New Jersey Infantry starting in August of 1861. He would be captured at the Battle of Gaine’s Mill in 1862. Simpson was paroled and returned to the regiment, but resigned his commission on August 24, 1862 to return to his rank of major in the Corps of Topographical Engineers. He was attached to the Department of the Ohio and was in charge of the expansion and improvements of the defenses for Cincinnati. For his services during the war, Simpson was brevetted to brigadier general. This one bears a period ink signature across the front bottom by Simpson himself. Back marked out of Washington.
