Union Major General and Future U.S. President James A. Garfield Carte de Visite Signed "J.A. Garfield Brig Gen Chief of Staff." 2.5" x 4" with no imprint on verso. A three quarter portrait of Garfield dressed in his military uniform. Pencil writing on verso is illegible. James Garfield (1831-1881) gained a commission as a colonel in the 42nd Ohio Infantry in August 1861, and he aided with the recruitment process. He served under General Buell and fought numerous battles in Kentucky before he was promoted to Brigadier General at the age of 30. In early 1862, he joined with Grant and was engaged in many important engagements during the war including Shiloh, Corinth and Chickamauga. He later served as Chief of Staff for General William Rosecrans. After the war, Garfield began his Congressional career and went on to become the 20th president of the United States, only to die six months into his first term, at the hands of deranged assassin Charles Guiteau. From the Bret J. Formichi American Civil War Rarities Collection. Condition: Light wear to corners, with mounting residue and minor material loss on verso. Overall very good with a bold signature. HID03101242017