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Autograph letter signed ("Ely S. Parker") as "Capt. & A.A. Genl.," to his brother. Vicksburg, MS, 5 September 1863. On "Headquarters Seventh Division, 17th Army Corps, Department of the Tennessee" letterhead. 1p, approx. 10 x 8 in. (few areas of separation to folds, tears and creasing near top edge, including tear partially impacting letterhead, some paper residue on verso). Docketing to verso. Parker writes to his brother, "simply to say to you that I am yet in the land of the living and enjoying myself after the true fashion of soldiers." He mentions his Division, which will "probably lay here all the fall. There is no telling which way they will move us when we again start. Our winter campaign will be either against Mobile or into Texas." Parker concludes the letter by asking that his brother keep an eye on his colt at home.

[With:] Partial autograph letter signed ("Ely S. Parker), to an unknown little girl. N.p., n.d. 1/2 p, approx. 4 3/4 x 8 in. (top half of letter missing, light wear near folds). Parker writes, "I cannot tell you any news, for we have nothing here but war news, and that cannot interest a little girl like you." He continues, "We have a little girl in our camp about as big as you are. Her name is Jennie Rawlins. And then we have a little boy named Jesse Grant, about as large as Freddy. They are very nice children and amuse me very much." Parker is almost certainly referencing the children of Ulysses S. Grant and John A. Rawlins, Grant's aide-de-camp.

[Also with:] Treasury Department, Office Construction, Official Business envelope, 4 x 8 3/4 in., addressed to Ely S. Parker, Dubuque, Iowa (with Dubuque crossed out), with additional locations written below, "Alabama, Genesee Co., New York." Signed near top right corner by Gilbert Rodman ("G. Rodman"), Acting Secretary of the Treasury. The envelope includes two postmarks, one that appears to be from Washington City, possibly dated 4 April 1861, the other from Dubuque, Iowa, possibly dated 21 April. With "Forwarded" and "Free" ink stamps at top left (some toning, soiling, and edge wear consistent with age and use).

Ely Samuel Parker was a Tonawanda Seneca engineer, attorney, US Army officer, and diplomat. In 1851, he was selected one of the 50 sachems of the Iroquois Confederacy. His engineering skills provided him opportunities to work with the New York State Canal Board, the Chesapeake and Albemarle Ship Canal, and the US Treasury Department in Detroit, Dubuque, and Galen, where he met Ulysses S. Grant. Grant appointed Parker to his staff, where he served as adjutant and military secretary during the war. As such, he was present for Lee's surrender at Appomattox where he famously asserted "We are all Americans." Parker continued to serve in the United States Army after the war, being commissioned an officer in the 2nd US Cavalry and again becoming Grant's military secretary with the rank of colonel. After Grant became president in March 1869, he appointed Parker as Commissioner of Indian Affairs. The first Native American to hold the office, he served from 1869 to 1871.