Signature of Daniel Sickles, military Governor of South Carolina during Reconstruction 19th century card on black backer with signature 'D. Sickles Major General'. (Good condition) H1 1/2" W2 7/16" *Biography: Born in New York City on October 20, 1819, Devil Dan Sickles was a graduate of the University of the City of New York. He began his political career as a printer and lawyer. During his first stint in the US House of Representatives he gained notoriety for shooting Philip Barton Key, the son of Francis Scott Key, because of Key's attentions to Sickles' wife while he was out of town on congressional duties. Daniel Sickles managed to get himself acquitted of any wrongdoing in the shooting. Shortly thereafter he began raising his own troop of volunteers in anticipation of the start of the American Civil War. With the start of the Peninsular campaign he was made a brigadier general despite little or no military experience. In early 1863 he was promoted to major general and would later command the Second Corps at Gettysburg. It was at Gettysburg that he would command troops during significant action for the first time in his short military career. His troops were badly beaten when he decided to advance without orders. Before the rest of the army knew what was happening, General Sickles' command had advanced to Peach Orchard and had been routed. Sickles would lose a leg in the fighting. Many of the other generals considered the plausibility of dragging him into a woodshed but figured the leg wound might teach him a lesson. It did not. Sickles' actions at Gettysburg were the lowlight of years of irresponsible command and disregard for military protocol. Only his political influence allowed him to retain command. After the war Sickles was appointed Governor of SC but was soon dismissed from that post for gross mismanagement. He continued to find work through his considerable influence and in 1869 was appointed Minister to Spain. After his return to the States he successfully ran for Congress and served another two terms before his retirement. An octogenarian relic of a bygone age, he became separated not only from family but from reality and died on May 3, 1914 at his home in New York City. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.