Clipping meas. approx. 3.50 x 2.00 inches. The inscription reads “GEO. W. GETTY/COLONEL 3^RD ARTILLERY/BVT. MAJ. GENL/COMMDG.” The inscription is in four lines with Getty’s signature at the top. The bottom three lines are in another hand.

Inscription is very readable and the ink is strong. There is some light surface dirt or staining along the right edge but it does not affect the signature.

George Washington Getty was born in Georgetown, District of Columbia on October 2, 1819. He was appointed to the United States Military Academy at the age of 16. When he graduated in 1840 he ranked fifteenth out of a class of forty-two and was assigned to the artillery as a 2^nd Lieutenant.

During the Mexican War, he campaigned with Winfield Scott's army and received a brevet promotion to Captain for gallantry at Contreras and Churubusco. He also fought against the Seminole Indians in Florida.

At the beginning of the Civil War, Getty was a Captain in the artillery. In September, 1861, he was appointed Lieutenant Colonel and commanded four batteries during the Peninsula Campaign. Named Chief of Artillery of the IX Corps, he served at the battles of South Mountain and Antietam. On September 25, 1862, Getty was promoted Brigadier General of Volunteers and assigned to the infantry. During the Battle of Fredericksburg in December, he commanded the 3rd Division of IX Corps. In March, 1863, Getty's Division was sent to Suffolk, Virginia, to help in the successful defense of that city.

After subsequent engineering duty and command of a diversion to the South Anna River during the Gettysburg Campaign, Getty served as acting Inspector General of the Army of the Potomac in early 1864. He was assigned to command the 2nd Division, VI Corps and was wounded in the Battle of the Wilderness. He recovered to lead his troops during the lengthy Siege of Petersburg, and later in Sheridan's Shenandoah Campaign. Getty became acting commander of VI Corps when Brig. Gen. James B. Ricketts was wounded leading the corps at the Battle of Cedar Creek.

On December 12, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln nominated Getty for appointment to brevet Major General of Volunteers, to rank from August 1, 1864. His appointment was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on February 14, 1865. Getty's division made the initial breakthrough at Petersburg on April 2, 1865, and took part in the final campaign of the Army of the Potomac. On July 17, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Getty for appointment to the brevet grade of Major General in the Regular Army to rank from March 13, 1865. Getty was mustered out of the volunteer force on October 9, 1866.

After the war Getty served as a regimental commander in the Regular Army and was eventually assigned to the Artillery School at Fortress Monroe, Virginia. He was a member of the Board of Conduct which exonerated former V Corps commander Maj. Gen. Fitz John Porter in 1879 and was transferred to the 4th U.S. Artillery on July 17, 1882.

After he retired from the Army on October 2, 1883 Getty lived on a farm near Forest Glen, Maryland. He died there on October 1, 1901 and was buried in Section 1 of Arlington National Cemetery.

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