Otis Historical Archives
National Museum of Health and Medicine
Armed Forces Institute of Pathology

Date of Records:  1862-1910

Size: 2 cubic feet, 1 box

Description
Horace Greeley Jacobs was born in Washington, D.C. on March 30, 1845. He entered military service on April 29, 1861 at Cherryfield, ME (Company G, 6th Maine infantry). Jacobs participated in the battles of Warwick's Creek, Williamsburg, Golding's Farm, Savage Station, White Oak Swamp, and Antietam, South Mountain, Fredericksburg (first and second). In the retreat from Salem Church, following Marye's Heights, Jacobs’ company participated in the fight at Banks’s Ford. It was then that Jacobs earned his commission as second lieutenant when he and the first sergeant rallied the company after a night attack and returned it to the regiment, as the captain was killed and the second lieutenant wounded.

His next engagement was at Gettysburg, then Bristoe station, followed by Rappahannock Station, where he was shot in the arm, but continued firing until a second wound shattered his left shoulder, permanently disabling his arm. He was sent to Washington, D. C. for treatment and after two months was given leave to return home. Though he tried to return to the Army, his wound was too severe and he was mustered out on May 24, 1864.

After leaving the Army at the age of 19, Jacobs resumed his studies for a short time, then returned to Washington, DC where he was appointed clerk in the office of Commissary-General of Subsistence and was a student at the Spencerian Business College and the Columbian (now George Washington) University. After completing his business course, Jacobs assumed a position in the Office of the Supervising Architect of the Treasury where he remained until 1884. In 1884 Jacobs accepted the position of General Manager of Woodward & Lathrop’s "Boston Store," but was forced to resign two years later due to pneumonia.

Upon relocating to Los Angeles, CA for his health, Jacobs accepted a position under the Supervising Architect of the Treasury as the Superintendent of Construction and Inspector of Buildings. He held this position in Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco until 1894. Jacobs returned to Washington and resumed his position with Woodward & Lothrop until 1897 when he accepted the position of Superintendent of Buildings and of Construction at Des Moines, IA. Jacobs died on August 31, 1910 in Minneapolis, MN and is buried there at Lakewood Cemetery.

Adapted from The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States 1861-65 – Records of the Regiments in the Union Army – Cyclopedia of Battles – Memoirs of Commanders and Soldiers. Vol. VIII Madison, WI: Federal Publishing Company, 1908.

Scope
This collection contains 25 documents relating to the life of Horace Greeley Jacobs. The earliest, and perhaps most notable items relate to Greeley’s service to the Union during the Civil War, including a letter home to his mother and a brief narrative entitled "Thoughts on the Battlefield." Other materials include certificates and letters of commendation, appointment, promotion, and discharge (both military and civilian) throughout his life. Pension claim and certification is also included, as well as Greeley’s will and notice of death.

Associated material

• "Excised head and portion of shaft of left humerus, comminuted by a musket ball." SP 103. Surgical Photographs. National Museum of Health and Medicine.
• "Horace G. Jacobs." CP 1669A. Contributed Photographs. National Museum of Health and Medicine.
• "Horace G. Jacobs." CP 1669B. Contributed Photographs. National Museum of Health and Medicine.
• Humerus of Horace Greeley Jacobs. AFIP 0384696. Anatomical specimen. National Museum of Health and Medicine.

List of documents in collection
Letter to Mother, Camp 19, May 31, 1862
Certificate of appointment to 2nd Lieutenant, July 8, 1863
Thoughts on the Battle Field, c. 1864
Letter to Horace Greeley, March 17, 1864
Notice of Discharge, May 28, 1864
Milliken Letter of Commendation, December 20, 1864
Clerk Appointment, May 1, 1865
1st Lieutenant Brevet Certificate, May 13, 1865
Joshua Chamberlain Testimonial Certificate, July 4, 1868
Clerk Designation, May 22, 1869
Clerk Promotion, June 7, 1869
Letter of Application for Clerk Position, December 31, 1874
Chief Clerk Promotion Certificate, March 9, 1875
Pension Claim form, August 23, 1878
Chief Clerk Compensation form, June 21, 1881
Last Will and Testament, August 29, 1882
Woodward Letter of Commendation, November 12, 1887
Discharge Forwarding Letter, November 17, 1887
California Appointment, March 30, 1889
California Position Revocation & Replacement, May 10, 1890
California Position Duties, May 12, 1890
California Designation Change, September 6, 1892
Woodward Letter to President, June 17, 1893
Pension Certification, May 15, 1903
Church Bulletin Notice of Death, September 4, 1910