Theodore Roosevelt and William H. Taft Document... Lot 44

Theodore Roosevelt and William H. Taft Document Signed as President and Secretary of War Partly-printed vellum DS, signed “Theodore Roosevelt” as president and “Wm. H. Taft” as secretary of war, one page, 15.75 x 20.75, December 26, 1905. President Roosevelt appoints Benjamin K. Roberts as "Chief of Artillery with the rank of Brigadier General, in the service of the United States." Boldly signed at the conclusion in ink by President Theodore Roosevelt, and countersigned by Secretary of War William Howard Taft. The blue seal affixed at the lower left remains fully intact. In fine condition. Benjamin Kearney Roberts (1846-1921) was the son of Civil War General Benjamin S. Roberts (Chief of Cavalry in the Army of Virginia and Dept. of the Gulf). Benjamin K. Roberts served on the staff of General George H. Thomas during the Civil War and commanded the fortifications at Sandy Hook during the Spanish American War. He was made Brigadier General and Chief of Artillery in 1905 (this document) and retired the next day. Battery Roberts at Fort Drum in the Philippines is named in his honor.