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VAN WYCK, Charles Henry (1824-1895) Congressman from New York 1859-63; during the Civil War he was colonel of the 56th NY and served with McClellan in the peninsular campaign. Brigadier General from January through August 1865 and again in Congress 1867-71, and again 1881-88. Free Frank of Congressman, “C. H. Van Wyck, MC” on a patriotic cover, Walcott Catalog #3049 (with slightly different star field in flag), with 1861 circular date stamp. Van Wyck was elected to Congress in 1858 and served until 1863. He was commissioned colonel of the 56th New York in September 1861. On September 27, 1865 he was appointed a full-rank brig. gen of volunteers, one of the last four such appointments made during the war. Van Wyck delivered a harsh anti-slavery speech on the House floor on March 7, 1860, which denounced the Southern states for the "crime against the laws of God and nature." The speech was widely reported. On February 22, 1861, Van Wyck was assaulted near the United States Capitol by three men in an assassination attempt, an attack which was reported as related to the prior year's speech. Van Wyck fought off the attack, surviving only because a notebook and copy of the Congressional Globe which he had kept in the breast pocket of his coat had blocked the blade of a Bowie knife.