Appointment of Henry E. Wetherill as Assistant Surgeon and First Lieutenant
Artifact ID1983.00948.01
Object Type
Orders, Military
Gifter
Francis E. Manucci
Date
December 24, 1898
Medium
Parchment (animal skin), Ink
Dimensions19 1/2 × 14 3/4 in. (49.5 × 37.5 cm)
Physical DescriptionOriginal military orders for Henry E. Wetherill. The document is printed with handwritten sections. The text on the document states "The President of the United States of America To all who shall see these presents greeting: Know ye, that reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity, and abilities of Henry E. Wetherill, I have nominated, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate do appoint him Assistant Surgeon with the rank of First Lieutenant in the service of the United States: to rank as such from the twenty-third day of July eighteen hundred and ninety-eight. He is therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of Assistant Surgeon by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging. And I do strictly charge and require all Officers and Soldiers under his command to be obedient to his orders as Assistant Surgeon. And he is to observe and follow such orders and directions from time to time as he shall receive from me or the future President of the United States of America or the General or other superior Officers set over him, according to the rules and discipline of War. This Commission to continue in force during the pleasure of the President of the United States for the time being. Given under my hand at the City of Washington this twenty-fourth of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight, and in the one hundred and twenty-second year of the Independence of the United States. By the President [signature] William McKinley [signature] Russell A. Alger Secretary of War."Original military orders for Henry E. Wetherill. The document is printed with handwritten sections. The text on the document states "The President of the United States of America To all who shall see these presents greeting: Know ye, that reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity, and abilities of Henry E. Wetherill, I have nominated, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate do appoint him Assistant Surgeon with the rank of First Lieutenant in the service of the United States: to rank as such from the twenty-third day of July eighteen hundred and ninety-eight. He is therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of Assistant Surgeon by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging. And I do strictly charge and require all Officers and Soldiers under his command to be obedient to his orders as Assistant Surgeon. And he is to observe and follow such orders and directions from time to time as he shall receive from me or the future President of the United States of America or the General or other superior Officers set over him, according to the rules and discipline of War. This Commission to continue in force during the pleasure of the President of the United States for the time being. Given under my hand at the City of Washington this twenty-fourth of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight, and in the one hundred and twenty-second year of the Independence of the United States. By the President [signature] William McKinley [signature] Russell A. Alger Secretary of War."Historical NotePresidential appointment of Henry Emerson Wetherill as Assistant Surgeon with the Rank of First Lieutenant, December 24, 1898. It is signed by President William McKinley and Secretary of War Russel A. Alger. Wetherill (1871-1946) served as a Pennsylvania National Guard surgeon and a US Army assistant surgeon. He was from a family that ran a lead and paint business in Philadelphia, but chose to go into medicine instead. He also was an inventor.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteThe item was a gift from a member of the general public to President Ronald Reagan during the Reagan administration. It was received through the Executive Office of the President Office of Correspondence and maintained there until its transfer to the National Archives in January, 1989 for deposit with the Reagan Presidential Library.
National Archives Catalog CollectionRecords of the White House Gift Unit (Reagan Administration) (National Archives Identifier 6816362) and
National Archives Catalog SeriesGifts from the General Public (National Archives Identifier 6816363)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestricted
Use Restriction NoteReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)