[COLLECTION OF DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE DEATH OF MAJOR GENERAL EDWARD O.C. ORD IN HAVANA]

[Ord, Edward O. C.]

Published by Washington, 1884

About this Item

Three documents, comprising [7] manuscript pages, plus one printed leaf and two telegrams. Quarto. Old folds. Slight separation at some folds. Lightly soiled. Very good. In a blue cloth folder, gilt leather label. Edward Otho Cresap Ord (1818-1883) was a career soldier who served in the Mexican-American War and the Civil War, ultimately attaining the rank of Major General. After the Mexican-American War he spent most of his time serving in California and the western frontier. Despite strong Southern sentiments, Ord remained loyal to the Union and joined the Northern cause when war broke out. His aggressive action in battle caught the eye of Ulysses S. Grant, who later used Ord to replace troublesome, politically appointed generals John A. McClernand and Benjamin Butler in 1863 and 1865 respectively. After the war, he served in California and Texas before retiring in 1880, a which point, in conjunction with Grant, he worked on several Mexican railroad schemes. He died in Havana, en route to Vera Cruz, after contracting yellow fever. The documents here follow Ord's final illness, his death, and the transfer of his remains from Havana to Washington. A telegram dated July 23, 1883, sent to Ord's wife, reads: "Gen'l Ord sick with fever in Havana if you go send children here." Another sent the same day reads: "General Ord died here last night do you wish the body embalmed and forwarded?" The three manuscript documents are official copies of memorandums sent various officials advising the procedure for the reception of Ord's body in February 1884. The printed document contains the official instructions, Special Orders No. 2, for receiving Ord's body. Seller Inventory # WRCAM43218

Bibliographic Details

Title: [COLLECTION OF DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE ...

Publisher: Washington

Publication Date: 1884