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Document 16579

ULYSSES S. GRANT
The President sends his former military colleague, General Daniel Sickles, to Spain as U.S. Minister.
Important Partly Printed Presidential Warrant signed: "U.S. Grant" as 18th U.S. President, 1p, 8x10. Washington, 1869 June 28. In full: "I hereby authorize and direct the Secretary of State [Hamilton Fish] to affix the Seal of the United States to the envelope of a letter addressed to the Regent of Spain (Genl Sickles' Credence) dated this day, and signed by me and for so doing this shall be his warrant." The envelope mentioned in this warrant contained Sickles' credentials. On May 15, 1869, President Grant appointed former Union General DANIEL SICKLES as U.S. Minister to Spain. Sickles, who was the Military Governor of the Carolinas at the time, had fought at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, where he lost his right leg in defense of his position on the Peach Orchard Salient. America's relations with Spain during Sickles' tenure were tense. From 1868-1878, there was an insurrectionary war in Cuba, and Grant's administration refused to give belligerent states to insurgents. Then, in October 1873, tensions between the U.S. and Spain peaked over the Virginius Affair. The Virginius was a ship of American registry that carried arms to Cuban rebels. It was captured by a Spanish gunboat in British waters near Jamaica and 53 of its crew and passengers were executed as pirates by the Governor of Santiago, General Juan Burriel. The American public was outraged. On investigation, both Spain and the U.S. found the registration papers had been fraudulently obtained and the Virginius' owners were a Cuban revolutionary committee in New York. Grant's Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, acting under public sentiment, issued a "diplomatic" ultimatum to Spain. U.S. Minister Sickles delivered it in such an antagonistic way, that he was accused of bringing America close to war. As a result of his actions, Sickles resigned as Minister in December 1873. The Virginius was surrendered on December 16, 1873 but foundered before reaching port. The survivors were turned over to U.S. authorities in Santiago on December 18, and Spain paid $80,000 indemnity to relatives of the executed Americans. Creased and shaded at blank edges. Horizontal fold touches Grant's signature, upper fold is lightly shaded.

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