Abraham LincolnBiblio.com
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1863Best.-Nr. 2972001/09/1863. A powerful letter showing Lincoln's direct involvement with the chief judicial military officer showing the merciful Lincoln at work and showing his prioritizing retaining experienced veterans in the service <img class=""alignnone size-post-window wp-image-29790"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20240123003955/Lincoln-Sept-1-1863-3-1600x295.jpg"" alt="""" width=""1600"" height=""295"" /> The Judge Advocate General of the United States Army is the senior officer of the Judge Advocate General's Corps of the United States Army. The position was abolished but then reinstated in 1849. In 1862 Lincoln appointed his first Judge Advocate General Joseph Holt only the second since 1783. He named Joseph Holt. Holt joined the Army as a colonel in 1862. As Judge Advocate General of the Army Holt oversaw the expansion of military law to include the military prosecutions of citizens who were not in the military service. By the time he joined the Army he believed that the only means to prevent treason from occurring again was to ensure that slavery was abolished for all time and eventually equal treatment under the law enforced in the South. At the beginning of the Civil War Joseph Carbery Lay had an office in Washington D. C. as an agent for the transaction of all kinds of business including procuring patents pensions back pay purchase and sale of real estate writing of deeds releases and other instruments regarding settlement of accounts with and claims against the Government. He quickly enlisted in the 12th Infantry Regiment of the Regular Army as a lieutenant. During the Peninsula Campaign in the spring of 1862 the 12th Infantry distinguished itself in its first combat action at the Battle of Gaines Mill in June 1862 while sustaining fifty percent casualties. Lay was a captain at that time. <img class=""alignnone size-post-window wp-image-29789"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20240123003932/Lincoln-Sept-1-1863-2-1600x746.jpg"" alt="""" width=""1600"" height=""746"" /> Captain Joseph Carbery Lay was cashiered - dismissed - from the Army on July 21 1862 for being drunk on duty and breach of arrest. Lay felt that an injustice had been done and wanted the dismissal revoked. In 1863 the matter came to the attention of President Lincoln who insisted on seeing the record of the case. He was always anxious to prevent injustice from being done and even a case in which alleged drunkenness was involved was not beneath his notice. Autograph letter signed as President on Executive Mansion letterhead Washington September 1 1863 to the Judge Advocate General insisting that he receive the records in Lay’s case. “Sir: I am told that Carbery Lay a Captain in the 12th. Regular Infantry has been dismissed by a Court-Martial. Please get the record and examine the case & report to me. Yours truly A. Lincoln.” <img class=""alignnone size-post-window wp-image-29791"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20240123004036/Lincoln-Sept-1-1863-4-1600x491.jpg"" alt="""" width=""1600"" height=""491"" /> Lincoln prioritized retaining experienced veterans in the service and sided with Lay as is indicated by the fact that Lay was reinstated by being appointed a lieutenant in the Seventeenth Infantry on October 30 1863 less than two months after this letter. While Lay was serving in that unit in 1863 it was present in engagements at Rappahannock Station and on Mine Run and marched with it until going into winter camp. In 1864 the regiment took part in the Wilderness Campaign and the operations before Petersburg inscribing on its colors Laurel Hill North Anna Bethesda Church Cold Harbor and Petersburg; while its records show in addition that it was also engaged at Spotsylvania Court House and the battle of the Wilderness. Lay’s problems were not over however as in June 1864 he was accused of having returned to his home in Washington without leave. He came back to base soon after and made a statement that he had been ill and sent to hospital and then had a difficult time rejoining his regiment. Perhaps to avoid disciplinary action he resigned from the Army a few months later on September 12 1864. Over the years we’ve had just a handful of letters showing the kindly merciful Lincoln at work and none to Holt. <img class=""alignnone size-post-window wp-image-25018"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20231204144051/Folder-site-11-1600x1327.jpg"" alt="""" width=""1600"" height=""1327"" /> unknown
1863Best.-Nr. 2972001/09/1863. A powerful letter showing Lincoln's direct involvement with the chief judicial military officer showing the merciful Lincoln at work and showing his prioritizing retaining experienced veterans in the service <img class=""alignnone size-post-window wp-image-29790"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20240123003955/Lincoln-Sept-1-1863-3-1600x295.jpg"" alt="""" width=""1600"" height=""295"" /> The Judge Advocate General of the United States Army is the senior officer of the Judge Advocate General's Corps of the United States Army. The position was abolished but then reinstated in 1849. In 1862 Lincoln appointed his first Judge Advocate General Joseph Holt only the second since 1783. He named Joseph Holt. Holt joined the Army as a colonel in 1862. As Judge Advocate General of the Army Holt oversaw the expansion of military law to include the military prosecutions of citizens who were not in the military service. By the time he joined the Army he believed that the only means to prevent treason from occurring again was to ensure that slavery was abolished for all time and eventually equal treatment under the law enforced in the South. At the beginning of the Civil War Joseph Carbery Lay had an office in Washington D. C. as an agent for the transaction of all kinds of business including procuring patents pensions back pay purchase and sale of real estate writing of deeds releases and other instruments regarding settlement of accounts with and claims against the Government. He quickly enlisted in the 12th Infantry Regiment of the Regular Army as a lieutenant. During the Peninsula Campaign in the spring of 1862 the 12th Infantry distinguished itself in its first combat action at the Battle of Gaines Mill in June 1862 while sustaining fifty percent casualties. Lay was a captain at that time. <img class=""alignnone size-post-window wp-image-29789"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20240123003932/Lincoln-Sept-1-1863-2-1600x746.jpg"" alt="""" width=""1600"" height=""746"" /> Captain Joseph Carbery Lay was cashiered - dismissed - from the Army on July 21 1862 for being drunk on duty and breach of arrest. Lay felt that an injustice had been done and wanted the dismissal revoked. In 1863 the matter came to the attention of President Lincoln who insisted on seeing the record of the case. He was always anxious to prevent injustice from being done and even a case in which alleged drunkenness was involved was not beneath his notice. Autograph letter signed as President on Executive Mansion letterhead Washington September 1 1863 to the Judge Advocate General insisting that he receive the records in Lay’s case. “Sir: I am told that Carbery Lay a Captain in the 12th. Regular Infantry has been dismissed by a Court-Martial. Please get the record and examine the case & report to me. Yours truly A. Lincoln.” <img class=""alignnone size-post-window wp-image-29791"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20240123004036/Lincoln-Sept-1-1863-4-1600x491.jpg"" alt="""" width=""1600"" height=""491"" /> Lincoln prioritized retaining experienced veterans in the service and sided with Lay as is indicated by the fact that Lay was reinstated by being appointed a lieutenant in the Seventeenth Infantry on October 30 1863 less than two months after this letter. While Lay was serving in that unit in 1863 it was present in engagements at Rappahannock Station and on Mine Run and marched with it until going into winter camp. In 1864 the regiment took part in the Wilderness Campaign and the operations before Petersburg inscribing on its colors Laurel Hill North Anna Bethesda Church Cold Harbor and Petersburg; while its records show in addition that it was also engaged at Spotsylvania Court House and the battle of the Wilderness. Lay’s problems were not over however as in June 1864 he was accused of having returned to his home in Washington without leave. He came back to base soon after and made a statement that he had been ill and sent to hospital and then had a difficult time rejoining his regiment. Perhaps to avoid disciplinary action he resigned from the Army a few months later on September 12 1864. Over the years we’ve had just a handful of letters showing the kindly merciful Lincoln at work and none to Holt. <img class=""alignnone size-post-window wp-image-25018"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20231204144051/Folder-site-11-1600x1327.jpg"" alt="""" width=""1600"" height=""1327"" /> unknown books
1863Best.-Nr. 373004Washington D.C. 1863. 1p. plus integral blank. 4to 9-3/4x7-3/4 inches. Minor smudging to signature. Housed in a blue full morocco box. 1p. plus integral blank. 4to 9-3/4x7-3/4 inches. The first military draft in U.S. history was passed by Congress in early 1863 and signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln in March of that year. The Enrollment Act or Civil War Military Draft Act required the enrollment of every male citizen between twenty and forty-five years of age as well as those immigrants who had filed for citizenship unless exempted by the Act. It set enlistment quotas for each state and required states to draft men if they did not meet their enlistment quotas through volunteers. It also included the policies of substitution furnishing a suitable substitute to take the draftee's place and commutation paying $300 to avoid the draft which led to substantial resentment among working-class citizens not wealthy enough to pay their way out of service. Only July 13 during the draft lottery in New York City a riot broke out leading to three days of violence and destruction. Although initially focused on the draft the protests subsequently devolved into vicious race riots. The rioters were largely white and in the wake of the Emancipation Proclamation claimed to fear that freed enslaved men would migrate to the city and take their jobs. Since Blacks were exempted from the draft the Draft Act only heightened fears of Black migration to the city. The violence against the Black community in New York as well as against abolitionists was substantial: the death toll reached upwards of 120 and numerous homes and churches were burned. Since most of the New York State Militia was fighting with Union troops at Gettysburg the New York Police Department was the only force on hand to deal with the rioters initially and they were badly outnumbered and underequipped. By day four of the riots five New York Militia units had reached the city along with the 26th Michigan Volunteers and the 27th Indiana Volunteers and were able to start restoring order. Eventually there were several thousand troops in the city and they brutally put down the remaining rioters. Almost immediately calls came to suspend the draft in New York most notably by Horatio Seymour the Governor of New York who wrote to Lincoln several times in the weeks which followed arguing against the constitutionality of the draft and the inequity in its application. Lincoln replied on August 7 refusing to acquiesce to Seymour's demands writing: "I shall direct the draft to proceed in all the Districts drawing however at first from each of the four Districts towit: the second fourth sixth and eighth . I do not object to abide a decision of the United States Supreme Court or of the judges thereof on the constitutionality of the draft law. In fact I should be willing to facilitate the obtaining of it; but I can not consent to lose the time while it is being obtained. We are contending with an enemy who as I understand drives every able bodied man he can reach into his ranks very much as a butcher drives bullocks into a slaughter-pen. No time is wasted no argument is used. This produces an army which will soon turn upon our now victorious soldiers already in the field if they shall not be sustained by recruits as they should be. It produces an army with a rapidity not to be matched on our side if we first waste time to re-experiment with the volunteer system already deemed by congress and palpably in fact so far exhausted as to be inadequate; and then more time to obtain a court decision as to whether a law is constitutional which requires a part of those not now in the service to go to the aid of those who are already in it; and still more time to determine with absolute certainty that we get those who are to go in the precisely legal proportion to those who are not to go. My purpose is to be in my action just and constitutional; and yet practical in performing the important duty with which I am charged of maintaining the unity and the free principles of our common country" Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln Vol. 6. Three days later on August 10 Lincoln signed the present order to resume the draft in the Second Congressional district of New York the western portion of Long Island primarily Nassau County and part of Queens County. This is the first draft order following his refusal to Governor Seymour to suspend the draft in the New York City area. In full manuscript accomplishments in brackets: "I Abraham Lincoln President of the United States of America and Commander-in-chief of the Army and Navy thereof having taken into consideration the number of volunteers and militia furnished by and from the several States including the State New York and the period of service of said volunteers and militia since the commencement of the present rebellion in order to equalize the numbers among the Districts of the said States and having considered and allowed for the number already furnished as aforesaid and the time of their service aforesaid do hereby assign Two Thousand and Fifty 2050 as the first proportional part of the quota of troops to be furnished by the 2ndDistrict of the State of New York under this the first call made by me on the State of New York under the act approved March 3 1863 entitled 'An Act for Enrolling and Calling our the National Forces and for other purposes' and in pursuance of the act aforesaid I order that a draft be made in the said 2nd District of the State of New York for the number of men herein assigned to said District." On the same day as this order Lincoln would meet with Frederick Douglass at the White House to discuss his traveling through the south to recruit former slaves to fight for the Union. An extraordinary Lincoln document at a turning point moment in the Civil War. unknown
1863Best.-Nr. 373004Washington D.C. 1863. 1p. plus integral blank. 4to 9-3/4x7-3/4 inches. Minor smudging to signature. Housed in a blue full morocco box. 1p. plus integral blank. 4to 9-3/4x7-3/4 inches. The first military draft in U.S. history was passed by Congress in early 1863 and signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln in March of that year. The Enrollment Act or Civil War Military Draft Act required the enrollment of every male citizen between twenty and forty-five years of age as well as those immigrants who had filed for citizenship unless exempted by the Act. It set enlistment quotas for each state and required states to draft men if they did not meet their enlistment quotas through volunteers. It also included the policies of substitution furnishing a suitable substitute to take the draftee's place and commutation paying $300 to avoid the draft which led to substantial resentment among working-class citizens not wealthy enough to pay their way out of service. Only July 13 during the draft lottery in New York City a riot broke out leading to three days of violence and destruction. Although initially focused on the draft the protests subsequently devolved into vicious race riots. The rioters were largely white and in the wake of the Emancipation Proclamation claimed to fear that freed enslaved men would migrate to the city and take their jobs. Since Blacks were exempted from the draft the Draft Act only heightened fears of Black migration to the city. The violence against the Black community in New York as well as against abolitionists was substantial: the death toll reached upwards of 120 and numerous homes and churches were burned. Since most of the New York State Militia was fighting with Union troops at Gettysburg the New York Police Department was the only force on hand to deal with the rioters initially and they were badly outnumbered and underequipped. By day four of the riots five New York Militia units had reached the city along with the 26th Michigan Volunteers and the 27th Indiana Volunteers and were able to start restoring order. Eventually there were several thousand troops in the city and they brutally put down the remaining rioters. Almost immediately calls came to suspend the draft in New York most notably by Horatio Seymour the Governor of New York who wrote to Lincoln several times in the weeks which followed arguing against the constitutionality of the draft and the inequity in its application. Lincoln replied on August 7 refusing to acquiesce to Seymour's demands writing: "I shall direct the draft to proceed in all the Districts drawing however at first from each of the four Districts towit: the second fourth sixth and eighth . I do not object to abide a decision of the United States Supreme Court or of the judges thereof on the constitutionality of the draft law. In fact I should be willing to facilitate the obtaining of it; but I can not consent to lose the time while it is being obtained. We are contending with an enemy who as I understand drives every able bodied man he can reach into his ranks very much as a butcher drives bullocks into a slaughter-pen. No time is wasted no argument is used. This produces an army which will soon turn upon our now victorious soldiers already in the field if they shall not be sustained by recruits as they should be. It produces an army with a rapidity not to be matched on our side if we first waste time to re-experiment with the volunteer system already deemed by congress and palpably in fact so far exhausted as to be inadequate; and then more time to obtain a court decision as to whether a law is constitutional which requires a part of those not now in the service to go to the aid of those who are already in it; and still more time to determine with absolute certainty that we get those who are to go in the precisely legal proportion to those who are not to go. My purpose is to be in my action just and constitutional; and yet practical in performing the important duty with which I am charged of maintaining the unity and the free principles of our common country" Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln Vol. 6. Three days later on August 10 Lincoln signed the present order to resume the draft in the Second Congressional district of New York the western portion of Long Island primarily Nassau County and part of Queens County. This is the first draft order following his refusal to Governor Seymour to suspend the draft in the New York City area. In full manuscript accomplishments in brackets: "I Abraham Lincoln President of the United States of America and Commander-in-chief of the Army and Navy thereof having taken into consideration the number of volunteers and militia furnished by and from the several States including the State New York and the period of service of said volunteers and militia since the commencement of the present rebellion in order to equalize the numbers among the Districts of the said States and having considered and allowed for the number already furnished as aforesaid and the time of their service aforesaid do hereby assign Two Thousand and Fifty 2050 as the first proportional part of the quota of troops to be furnished by the 2ndDistrict of the State of New York under this the first call made by me on the State of New York under the act approved March 3 1863 entitled 'An Act for Enrolling and Calling our the National Forces and for other purposes' and in pursuance of the act aforesaid I order that a draft be made in the said 2nd District of the State of New York for the number of men herein assigned to said District." On the same day as this order Lincoln would meet with Frederick Douglass at the White House to discuss his traveling through the south to recruit former slaves to fight for the Union. An extraordinary Lincoln document at a turning point moment in the Civil War. unknown books
1863Best.-Nr. 376857New York: Baker & Godwin 1863. First edition in book form. 48 pp. 1 vols. 8vo. Original printed wrappers expert restoration to the spine. Housed in a morocco backed box. First edition in book form. 48 pp. 1 vols. 8vo. A lovely copy of the rare first edition of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address delivered at the dedication of a cemetery on the Gettysburg battlefield four months after the bloody and pivotal battle that turned the tide of the Civil War in favor of the Union. Lincoln's speech delivered in only a few minutes stands as a supreme distillation of American values and of the sacrifices necessary for the survival of liberty and freedom. Much controversy surrounds the circumstances and content of the address as it was actually delivered at Gettysburg. The words spoken in the speech differ in the versions appearing in newspapers and the text which appeared in Washington several days later published as The Gettysburg Solemnities and known in only four copies which is now taken as the closest version to Lincoln's final intent because of its correspondence to the known manuscript versions. Interestingly and according to Carbonell the text of the first appearance of the speech in book form published a few days later as An Oration Delivered on the Battlefield of Gettysburg i.e. the present printing is taken largely from the New York Tribune printing. Lincoln's address appears on page 40 and parenthetical notes are added indicating "applause" and "long-continued applause." A diagram on page 32 gives the details of the Soldiers' National Cemetery at Gettysburg. "Lincoln's speech composed on the train on the way to Gettysburg and written down according to tradition on scratch-paper and the backs of envelopes comprised ten sentences and took only a few minutes to deliver. From the first words - 'Four score and seven years ago' - to the last - 'that government of the people by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth' - it is immortal one of the supreme utterances of the principles of democratic freedom" PMM. PMM 351; Wills 191-204 261-263; Howes E233; Sabin 23263; Streeter sale 1747; Monaghan 193 Baker & Godwin unknown
1862Best.-Nr. 63833Washington. January 6 1862 i.e. 1863. Abraham Lincoln Writes on Behalf of an Illinois Friend Colleague and Patriot A remarkably moving and poignant autograph letter signed from Abraham Lincoln as president writing to Secretary of War Edwin Stanton on behalf of his former Illinois Whig colleague Martin P. Sweet who seeks to have a second son appointed to the Union Army even after his first had fallen in battle. Lincoln and Sweet were political colleagues and friends and the two shared the experience of losing sons at a young age. Not only had Sweet's son Lieutenant John J. Sweet died at the Battle of Gaines Mill on June 27 1862 but Lincoln himself had lost two young sons most recently his son Willie who died of typhoid fever in February 1862. Lincoln's brief letter to Stanton is fewer than one hundred words and contains the terse and eloquent rhythms that would categorize many of his most famous utterances including the Gettysburg Address later in 1863. The text written on Executive Mansion stationery reads in full: "Hon. Sec. of War; Sir Martin P. Sweet an Illinois friend of mine had a son a first Lieut. in the 5th Regular Cavalry who was killed in the battle of Gaines' Mill. He now asks that another son – brother to the deceased – be appointed to the place or a place in the same regiment in which the father says the officers tell him there are vacancies. The young man's name is 'Martin A. Sweet.' I shall be personally gratified if this can be done without difficulty. Yours truly A. Lincoln." The president has dated his letter January 6 1862 although based on the reference to the 5th Cavalry's role at Gaines' Mill in the summer of that year we must attribute this to an early New Year's error and assume that the date would properly be January 6 1863. Gaines' Mill took place on the third of the Seven Days Battles and was a major tactical victory for the Confederacy despite heavy losses on both sides. The "vacancies" alluded to by Lincoln would not be surprising – the 5th United States Cavalry suffered fifty-eight casualties in the fighting including all but one of its officers. It is unclear if Sweet's second son Martin Anthony ever received his appointment despite the heart-wrenching plea of his father and personal request of the President; in whatever case he lived through the war before passing away at a relatively young age in 1889. A "Martin A. Sweet" is recorded in the 6th Michigan Cavalry which was part of the Michigan Brigade and saw heavy action from Gettysburg through Appomattox. Martin Pierce Sweet 1806-64 was a native of New York who moved to Freeport Illinois in 1840 becoming a prominent local figure in law and politics. He and his wife Catherine Van Etten had six children. Sweet's policies mirrored Lincoln's own early views being firmly opposed to slavery through legislation though not a radical abolitionist. Throughout the 1840s and 50s Sweet and Lincoln were alternately comrades and opponents in the Illinois Whig party – in 1849 for example Lincoln backed Cyrus Edwards against Sweet for the appointment as General Land Commissioner and in 1855 he and Lincoln were both considered as alternatives to Lyman Trumbull who nonetheless took the seat in the Senate over both. In 1856 Sweet firmly backed Lincoln for vice president though he was soundly defeated by Dayton. From then on Sweet became an unofficial political adviser to the ascendant Lincoln – perhaps his most enduring legacy in that role was when he met with Joseph Medill and others to strategize on Lincoln's behalf in the Lincoln-Douglas debates one of which took place in Sweet's hometown of Freeport. Among their advice to Lincoln was that he should ask "a few ugly questions" including the famous prompt which resulted in Douglas' so-called Freeport Doctrine. Lincoln's ties to Sweet and the Douglas debates are made clear in a letter of September 16 1858 in which the future president wrote to his Illinois friend to apologize for a potentially disparaging comment fearing "that those villainous reporters Douglas has with him will try to make something out of it.I write this to assure you that nothing can be farther from me than to feel much less intentionally say anything disrespectful to you." A deeply moving autograph letter signed from Abraham Lincoln as president assisting a friend political ally and bereaved father prepared to lose a second son and give a last full measure of devotion for the Union cause. Light tanning vertical crease near right edge just touching signature. Very good. In a cloth chemise and half morocco and cloth box spine gilt. Michael Burlingame Abraham Lincoln: A Life Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Univ. Press 2008 pp.486-557. hardcover
1862Best.-Nr. 63833Washington. January 6 1862 i.e. 1863. Abraham Lincoln Writes on Behalf of an Illinois Friend Colleague and Patriot A remarkably moving and poignant autograph letter signed from Abraham Lincoln as president writing to Secretary of War Edwin Stanton on behalf of his former Illinois Whig colleague Martin P. Sweet who seeks to have a second son appointed to the Union Army even after his first had fallen in battle. Lincoln and Sweet were political colleagues and friends and the two shared the experience of losing sons at a young age. Not only had Sweet's son Lieutenant John J. Sweet died at the Battle of Gaines Mill on June 27 1862 but Lincoln himself had lost two young sons most recently his son Willie who died of typhoid fever in February 1862. Lincoln's brief letter to Stanton is fewer than one hundred words and contains the terse and eloquent rhythms that would categorize many of his most famous utterances including the Gettysburg Address later in 1863. The text written on Executive Mansion stationery reads in full: "Hon. Sec. of War; Sir Martin P. Sweet an Illinois friend of mine had a son a first Lieut. in the 5th Regular Cavalry who was killed in the battle of Gaines' Mill. He now asks that another son – brother to the deceased – be appointed to the place or a place in the same regiment in which the father says the officers tell him there are vacancies. The young man's name is 'Martin A. Sweet.' I shall be personally gratified if this can be done without difficulty. Yours truly A. Lincoln." The president has dated his letter January 6 1862 although based on the reference to the 5th Cavalry's role at Gaines' Mill in the summer of that year we must attribute this to an early New Year's error and assume that the date would properly be January 6 1863. Gaines' Mill took place on the third of the Seven Days Battles and was a major tactical victory for the Confederacy despite heavy losses on both sides. The "vacancies" alluded to by Lincoln would not be surprising – the 5th United States Cavalry suffered fifty-eight casualties in the fighting including all but one of its officers. It is unclear if Sweet's second son Martin Anthony ever received his appointment despite the heart-wrenching plea of his father and personal request of the President; in whatever case he lived through the war before passing away at a relatively young age in 1889. A "Martin A. Sweet" is recorded in the 6th Michigan Cavalry which was part of the Michigan Brigade and saw heavy action from Gettysburg through Appomattox. Martin Pierce Sweet 1806-64 was a native of New York who moved to Freeport Illinois in 1840 becoming a prominent local figure in law and politics. He and his wife Catherine Van Etten had six children. Sweet's policies mirrored Lincoln's own early views being firmly opposed to slavery through legislation though not a radical abolitionist. Throughout the 1840s and 50s Sweet and Lincoln were alternately comrades and opponents in the Illinois Whig party – in 1849 for example Lincoln backed Cyrus Edwards against Sweet for the appointment as General Land Commissioner and in 1855 he and Lincoln were both considered as alternatives to Lyman Trumbull who nonetheless took the seat in the Senate over both. In 1856 Sweet firmly backed Lincoln for vice president though he was soundly defeated by Dayton. From then on Sweet became an unofficial political adviser to the ascendant Lincoln – perhaps his most enduring legacy in that role was when he met with Joseph Medill and others to strategize on Lincoln's behalf in the Lincoln-Douglas debates one of which took place in Sweet's hometown of Freeport. Among their advice to Lincoln was that he should ask "a few ugly questions" including the famous prompt which resulted in Douglas' so-called Freeport Doctrine. Lincoln's ties to Sweet and the Douglas debates are made clear in a letter of September 16 1858 in which the future president wrote to his Illinois friend to apologize for a potentially disparaging comment fearing "that those villainous reporters Douglas has with him will try to make something out of it.I write this to assure you that nothing can be farther from me than to feel much less intentionally say anything disrespectful to you." A deeply moving autograph letter signed from Abraham Lincoln as president assisting a friend political ally and bereaved father prepared to lose a second son and give a last full measure of devotion for the Union cause. Light tanning vertical crease near right edge just touching signature. Very good. In a cloth chemise and half morocco and cloth box spine gilt. Michael Burlingame Abraham Lincoln: A Life Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Univ. Press 2008 pp.486-557. hardcover books
1863Best.-Nr. 376857New York: Baker & Godwin 1863. First edition in book form. 48 pp. 1 vols. 8vo. Original printed wrappers expert restoration to the spine. Housed in a morocco backed box. First edition in book form. 48 pp. 1 vols. 8vo. A lovely copy of the rare first edition of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address delivered at the dedication of a cemetery on the Gettysburg battlefield four months after the bloody and pivotal battle that turned the tide of the Civil War in favor of the Union. Lincoln's speech delivered in only a few minutes stands as a supreme distillation of American values and of the sacrifices necessary for the survival of liberty and freedom. Much controversy surrounds the circumstances and content of the address as it was actually delivered at Gettysburg. The words spoken in the speech differ in the versions appearing in newspapers and the text which appeared in Washington several days later published as The Gettysburg Solemnities and known in only four copies which is now taken as the closest version to Lincoln's final intent because of its correspondence to the known manuscript versions. Interestingly and according to Carbonell the text of the first appearance of the speech in book form published a few days later as An Oration Delivered on the Battlefield of Gettysburg i.e. the present printing is taken largely from the New York Tribune printing. Lincoln's address appears on page 40 and parenthetical notes are added indicating "applause" and "long-continued applause." A diagram on page 32 gives the details of the Soldiers' National Cemetery at Gettysburg. "Lincoln's speech composed on the train on the way to Gettysburg and written down according to tradition on scratch-paper and the backs of envelopes comprised ten sentences and took only a few minutes to deliver. From the first words - 'Four score and seven years ago' - to the last - 'that government of the people by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth' - it is immortal one of the supreme utterances of the principles of democratic freedom" PMM. PMM 351; Wills 191-204 261-263; Howes E233; Sabin 23263; Streeter sale 1747; Monaghan 193 Baker & Godwin unknown books
1864Best.-Nr. 2373223/04/1864. A search of public sale records going back 40 years fails to turn up even one other example of this document After the firing on Fort Sumter on April 12 1861 enthusiasm for enlisting in military service swept through both the North and South. In remarkable speed two large volunteer armies were created. Except for a tiny number of professional soldiers all expected to be in service for a brief term. Not just soldiers but the public and political leaders had fooled themselves about the war's likely duration. However the patriotic hope on each side that the war would be over in a matter of weeks or months was dashed in the first battle of Bull Run on July 21 1861. By late 1862 no sensible person believed that an early end to the bloody strife was possible and the knowledgeable expected peace to be far off in the future. Facing a protracted war maintaining a sufficiently sizable army became the greatest problem facing both Union leader Abraham Lincoln and Confederate leader Jefferson Davis. In 1862 rather than institute a draft President Lincoln requested 300000 more men and assigned each state a quota. The states could meet their quota in any manner they saw fit. Most states offered cash incentives known as bounties to gain recruits. Depending on where one enlisted the combination of local state and federal bounties could exceed $1000. But the 1862 policy also did not recruit enough troops. <img class=""alignnone wp-image-24611 size-post-window"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20231204150003/Lincoln-April-23-1864-2-1600x602.jpg"" alt="""" width=""1600"" height=""602"" /> As the war dragged on with no end in sight the inflow of volunteers was drying up and the Union needed to keep the ranks filled. The U.S. Congress resorted to the first draft in the country’s history in March 1863. All able-bodied men between ages 20 and 45 were required to be enrolled and available for military service. Draftees were chosen by lottery. Once conscripted a man could avoid service for that particular round of the draft either by paying a $300 commutation fee or by hiring a substitute to take his place. As in the South this raised accusations that the war had become “a rich man’s war but a poor man’s fight.” Nevertheless in both North and South statistics indicate that wealthy men were represented in the service in at least the same proportion as they were in the general population. A lot of blood was spilled in 1863 with the battles of Chancellorsville Gettysburg Vicksburg Chickamauga and Chattanooga among others. By year’s end President Lincoln and the Union leadership realized that more men were needed for the army and urgently. On February 1 1864 Lincoln called for 500000 men to serve for three years or for the duration of the war. Then on March 15 he supplemented this with a call for 250000 more. There would be another draft call in December 1864 but it was never completed due to the impending end of the war. The March 1864 draft call stated: “Washington March 15 1864. In order to supply the force required to be drafted for the Navy and to provide an adequate reserve force for all contingencies in addition to the 500000 men called for Feb. 1 1864 the call is hereby made and a draft ordered for Two Hundred Thousand men for the military service – Army Navy and Marine corps of the United States. The proportional quotas for the different wards towns townships precincts or election districts or counties will be made known through the Provost Marshall General’s bureau and account will be taken of the credits and deficiencies of former quotas. The 15th day of April 1864 is designated as the time up to which the numbers required from each ward of a city town etc. may be raised by voluntary enlistment; and drafts will be made in each ward of a city town etc. which shall not have filled the quota assigned to it within the time designated for the number required to fill said quota. The draft will be commenced as soon after the 15th of April as practicable…” It took little more than a week for everything to be in place. <img class=""alignnone wp-image-24623 size-full"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20231204145931/My-Movie-177ygbhbj.gif"" alt="""" width=""1920"" height=""1080"" /> The mechanics of the draft were that each state and district within a state were assigned quotas and the President would order that each state’s draft numbers and districts be implemented. This was the actual order for the draft. Then each individual district would receive from the President details of its requirements in a circular letter. One sees these individual district circular letters on the market every now and then. But what one never sees is the order to implement the draft for a state assigning the districts and number of troops being called forth. In fact a search of public sale records going back 40 years fails to turn up another example nor have we seen one before. Document signed as President Washington April 23 1864 being Lincoln’s implementation order for New York. “I hereby authorize and direct the Secretary of State to affix the Seal of the United States to the apportionment of the quota of troops to be furnished by the State of New York from its several districts dated and this day signed by me and for so doing this shall be his warrant.” An extremely rare if not unique document showing Lincoln raising troops on the macro level of a state. <img class=""alignnone wp-image-23729 size-post-window"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20231204152429/Folder-site-7-1600x1327.jpg"" alt="""" width=""1600"" height=""1327"" /> unknown
1864Best.-Nr. 2373223/04/1864. A search of public sale records going back 40 years fails to turn up even one other example of this document After the firing on Fort Sumter on April 12 1861 enthusiasm for enlisting in military service swept through both the North and South. In remarkable speed two large volunteer armies were created. Except for a tiny number of professional soldiers all expected to be in service for a brief term. Not just soldiers but the public and political leaders had fooled themselves about the war's likely duration. However the patriotic hope on each side that the war would be over in a matter of weeks or months was dashed in the first battle of Bull Run on July 21 1861. By late 1862 no sensible person believed that an early end to the bloody strife was possible and the knowledgeable expected peace to be far off in the future. Facing a protracted war maintaining a sufficiently sizable army became the greatest problem facing both Union leader Abraham Lincoln and Confederate leader Jefferson Davis. In 1862 rather than institute a draft President Lincoln requested 300000 more men and assigned each state a quota. The states could meet their quota in any manner they saw fit. Most states offered cash incentives known as bounties to gain recruits. Depending on where one enlisted the combination of local state and federal bounties could exceed $1000. But the 1862 policy also did not recruit enough troops. <img class=""alignnone wp-image-24611 size-post-window"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20231204150003/Lincoln-April-23-1864-2-1600x602.jpg"" alt="""" width=""1600"" height=""602"" /> As the war dragged on with no end in sight the inflow of volunteers was drying up and the Union needed to keep the ranks filled. The U.S. Congress resorted to the first draft in the country’s history in March 1863. All able-bodied men between ages 20 and 45 were required to be enrolled and available for military service. Draftees were chosen by lottery. Once conscripted a man could avoid service for that particular round of the draft either by paying a $300 commutation fee or by hiring a substitute to take his place. As in the South this raised accusations that the war had become “a rich man’s war but a poor man’s fight.” Nevertheless in both North and South statistics indicate that wealthy men were represented in the service in at least the same proportion as they were in the general population. A lot of blood was spilled in 1863 with the battles of Chancellorsville Gettysburg Vicksburg Chickamauga and Chattanooga among others. By year’s end President Lincoln and the Union leadership realized that more men were needed for the army and urgently. On February 1 1864 Lincoln called for 500000 men to serve for three years or for the duration of the war. Then on March 15 he supplemented this with a call for 250000 more. There would be another draft call in December 1864 but it was never completed due to the impending end of the war. The March 1864 draft call stated: “Washington March 15 1864. In order to supply the force required to be drafted for the Navy and to provide an adequate reserve force for all contingencies in addition to the 500000 men called for Feb. 1 1864 the call is hereby made and a draft ordered for Two Hundred Thousand men for the military service – Army Navy and Marine corps of the United States. The proportional quotas for the different wards towns townships precincts or election districts or counties will be made known through the Provost Marshall General’s bureau and account will be taken of the credits and deficiencies of former quotas. The 15th day of April 1864 is designated as the time up to which the numbers required from each ward of a city town etc. may be raised by voluntary enlistment; and drafts will be made in each ward of a city town etc. which shall not have filled the quota assigned to it within the time designated for the number required to fill said quota. The draft will be commenced as soon after the 15th of April as practicable…” It took little more than a week for everything to be in place. <img class=""alignnone wp-image-24623 size-full"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20231204145931/My-Movie-177ygbhbj.gif"" alt="""" width=""1920"" height=""1080"" /> The mechanics of the draft were that each state and district within a state were assigned quotas and the President would order that each state’s draft numbers and districts be implemented. This was the actual order for the draft. Then each individual district would receive from the President details of its requirements in a circular letter. One sees these individual district circular letters on the market every now and then. But what one never sees is the order to implement the draft for a state assigning the districts and number of troops being called forth. In fact a search of public sale records going back 40 years fails to turn up another example nor have we seen one before. Document signed as President Washington April 23 1864 being Lincoln’s implementation order for New York. “I hereby authorize and direct the Secretary of State to affix the Seal of the United States to the apportionment of the quota of troops to be furnished by the State of New York from its several districts dated and this day signed by me and for so doing this shall be his warrant.” An extremely rare if not unique document showing Lincoln raising troops on the macro level of a state. <img class=""alignnone wp-image-23729 size-post-window"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20231204152429/Folder-site-7-1600x1327.jpg"" alt="""" width=""1600"" height=""1327"" /> unknown books
1863Best.-Nr. 423266New York: Baker & Godwin Printers and Publishers Printing-House Square opposite City Hall 1863. Softcover. Very Good. The earliest publication of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address in book form preceded only by the exceptionally scarce 16-page pamphlet The Gettysburg Solemnities. Octavo. Stitched in the original printed wrapper with a publisher's advertisement on the rear wrap. pp. 1-3 4-48. Modest overall toning and rubbing to the wrapper some fraying at the corners part of the paper along the spine back is perished one vertical stain at the front wrap and title page a very good copy with a few scattered contemporary brown ink markings. Very light contemporary ownership name in pencil at the top of the front wrap. Housed in a fine quarter blue morocco slipcase with gilt spine lettering and two raised bands and with an internal cloth chemise. "Collection of Foreman M. Lebold" stamped in gold on the front cover of the slipcase. Foreman M. Lebold was a noted collector of Lincoln material and the eldest brother of Nathan Leopold one of the infamous Leopold and Loeb teenage thrill killers convicted of the murder of Bobby Franks which captured the attention of the nation. Foreman like much of his family eventually changed his last name to Lebold because of the notoriety of the trial. Lincoln delivered his speech at the dedication ceremony of the Gettysburg National Cemetery on November 19 1863 about four months after the pivotal battle that turned the tide of the Civil War in favor of the Union. His speech was preceded by an Oration by Edward Everett the most famous orator of the day. Everett's oration printed here in full took about two hours to deliver and is now largely forgotten. Lincoln's address was delivered in only a few minutes and is now celebrated as the supreme distillation of American values and testament to the sacrifices necessary to achieve freedom for all Americans. It is printed on page 40 of this booklet under the title: "The dedicatory remarks were then delivered by the President as follows: / President Lincoln's Speech. / Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation ." A well-preserved copy in the original wrappers. Sabin 23263; Printing and the Mind of Man 351. Baker & Godwin, Printers and Publishers, Printing-House Square, opposite City Hall unknown
1863Best.-Nr. 423266New York: Baker & Godwin Printers and Publishers Printing-House Square opposite City Hall 1863. Softcover. Very Good. The earliest publication of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address in book form preceded only by the exceptionally scarce 16-page pamphlet The Gettysburg Solemnities. Octavo. Stitched in the original printed wrapper with a publisher's advertisement on the rear wrap. pp. 1-3 4-48. Modest overall toning and rubbing to the wrapper some fraying at the corners part of the paper along the spine back is perished one vertical stain at the front wrap and title page a very good copy with a few scattered contemporary brown ink markings. Very light contemporary ownership name in pencil at the top of the front wrap. Housed in a fine quarter blue morocco slipcase with gilt spine lettering and two raised bands and with an internal cloth chemise. "Collection of Foreman M. Lebold" stamped in gold on the front cover of the slipcase. Foreman M. Lebold was a noted collector of Lincoln material and the eldest brother of Nathan Leopold one of the infamous Leopold and Loeb teenage thrill killers convicted of the murder of Bobby Franks which captured the attention of the nation. Foreman like much of his family eventually changed his last name to Lebold because of the notoriety of the trial. Lincoln delivered his speech at the dedication ceremony of the Gettysburg National Cemetery on November 19 1863 about four months after the pivotal battle that turned the tide of the Civil War in favor of the Union. His speech was preceded by an Oration by Edward Everett the most famous orator of the day. Everett's oration printed here in full took about two hours to deliver and is now largely forgotten. Lincoln's address was delivered in only a few minutes and is now celebrated as the supreme distillation of American values and testament to the sacrifices necessary to achieve freedom for all Americans. It is printed on page 40 of this booklet under the title: "The dedicatory remarks were then delivered by the President as follows: / President Lincoln's Speech. / Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation ." A well-preserved copy in the original wrappers. Sabin 23263; Printing and the Mind of Man 351. Baker & Godwin, Printers and Publishers, Printing-House Square, opposite City Hall unknown books
1799Best.-Nr. 12534Paris: Du Pont 1799. Three engraved maps 465 by 420 mm 550 by 340 mm and 530 by 350 mm respectively with fine contemporary hand-colour in full old folds. These maps from the library of the Rochambeau family were published in the first edition of Rochefoucauld-Liancourt's travels in the United States 'Voyage Dans les États-Unis D'Amérique Fait en 1795 1796 et 1797 " Paris 1799 annotated in an early 19th-century hand after Abraham Bradley Junior's 1796 map 'A Map of the United States. Exhibiting Post Roads & Distances'. They are reduced copies of the 1796 first edition of Bradley's map and are therefore the first French edition of these maps. The Comte de Rochambeau 1725-1807 was a battle-hardened French general chosen by King Louis XVI in 1780 to command the expeditionary corps in the United States under the orders of General George Washington. Their combined success at the Siege of Yorktown on the 19th of October 1781 ended the Revolutionary War and secured American independence. 1."Carte générale des États-Unis de l'Amérique Septentrionale divisée en ses 17 provinces" annotated in an early 19th-century hand numbering each of 16 states giving the location of Native American tribes providing a key showing the major post roads from Main to South Carolina all after Abraham Bradley's map of 1796 acknowledged by the inscriber who has replaced the imprint with "par Abraham Bradley Jun.r" This map of the East Coast extends from Quebec south to include part of East and West Florida; the western boundary of Georgia extends to the Mississippi River; a strip of land extending westward between Georgia and Tennessee is designated "United States Territory" having been ceded back to the United States in 1787 from South Carolina; another strip between Georgia and West Florida is "Land claimed by the united states" referring to the ongoing dispute between the United States and Spain; all the land to the west which would become the Louisiana Purchase is "Spanish Territory Louisiana." English captions and French title. Manuscript ink annotations in French indicating the names of the 17 states and the position of the Indian tribes. Ink manuscript inscription to verso "IK 403" shelfmark of Rochambeau family library and as "Etats-Unis en 17 provinces." 2. The "Carte des États-Unis Provinces méridionales" shows Kentucky Virginia Tennessee North and South Carolina Georgia a strip of land between Tennessee and Georgia as "United States Territory" and to the south of Georgia "Land claimed by the united states". 3. The "Carte des États-Unis provinces Septentrionales" shows the states from Main sic to Maryland and Delaware. François Alexandre Frédéric duc de La Rochefoucauld-Liancourt 1747-1827 was a French writer and courtier. A social and scientific reformer he was elected to the Estates-General and pushed for changes to the absolute monarchy of France. Rochefoucauld-Liancourt was the first to warn Louis XVI of the fall of the Bastille; when the king called it a revolt Rochefoucauld Liancourt replied "No sire it is a revolution". Despite being sympathetic to the original aims of the Revolution and serving as the first president of the Constituent Assembly he opposed republicanism and secretly tried to arrange for the escape of the king. Following the storming of the royal palace in August 1792 and the beginning of the September Massacres later that same year precipitated his flight from France and he went into self-imposed exile in America. From London in September 1794 Angelica Schuyler Church wrote to her brother-in-law Alexander Hamilton with a glowing introduction. Liancourt made his was to Philadelphia in November and travelled extensively from "le Haute-Canada" above Lake Ontario to Charleston South Carolina taking notes on everything from the economy to slavery to agriculture. After returning to France in 1799 when Napoleon took power he published his analysis as an eight-volume work in which these maps were published. Related Letters and Historic Background Angelica Church to Alexander Hamilton September 19 1794: "My dear Brother I have very particular and very good motives to ask your kindness for the Duke de Liancourt. he loved Liberty with good sence and moderation; and he meant so well towards his country as to introduce into France a better system of Agriculture and to soften the situation of the Lower class of people there: Virtue has not found its reward for in the many scenes of distress that has afflicted his unfortunate country he like many more good men has been obliged to leave his possessions and seek an Asylum in this country. He goes to America and goes there without a friend unless my dear Brother who is always so good will extend to Monsieur de Liancourt his ease. besides many good Qualities this gentleman is the friend of the Marquis de La Fayette. Angelica Church." On April 10 1795 Liancourt wrote to Hamilton in a letter docketed by the recipient and then later by his widow Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton. Rough translation from French: "You have allowed me to count on your interest Monsieur and this without complaint a hope for which I am flattered. I am herewith asking you to prove it which I hope will be one for you interest since it seems to me not being a stranger to you. I am at the point of leaving for a voyage that will take me as far as Canada. I will enter the United States through the province of Maine from there for another voyage in the east There are introduction letters to principle places that I am due to visit that I would be more pleased to get from you rather than anyone else. If you agree as I think you will to give them to me would you please send them to General Knox in the province of Maine where I will be until the end of July. I flatter myself that you will excuse my importunity!." Although France and the United States had been allies since 1778 political developments in both countries damaged the relationship. The French Revolution was viewed by Federalists like Alexander Hamilton as a dangerous precedent; and the ensuing wars between Britain and France placed the neutral United States in a precarious position. Relations deteriorated further on the signing of Jay's Treaty 1794 with Great Britain. France ordered the seizure of American ships carrying British goods and in 1796 the French refused to admit American diplomats. This impasse led to the XYZ Affair which provoked Congress in turn to suspend commercial relations with France and to authorize American warships to seize armed French vessels. This undeclared naval war lasted for three years with the United States capturing about eighty-five French vessels Du Pont, unknown
1846Best.-Nr. 3117130/03/1846. At the time Lincoln wrote this he was running for Congress It shows the relationship between perhaps the most famous senior and junior law partners https://vimeo.com/943731365share=copy In his nearly 25 years as a lawyer in Springfield Illinois Abraham Lincoln had three partners. He joined John Todd Stuart as a junior partner then started a new practice as a junior partner with Stephen T. Logan. In 1844 Lincoln and Logan took on William H. Herndon. In the fall of 1844 Lincoln was tired of being a junior partner. He had worked for senior partners with political ambitions and Lincoln wanted a younger partner to whom he could relate. Logan and Lincoln dissolved their partnership in December 1844. Logan wanted to practice law with his son David and Lincoln wanted to start his own law firm. In October Lincoln invited his friend William Herndon to form a partnership with Herndon as junior partner. Thus was born Lincoln and Herndon. The firm would become a legend. In all three firms Lincoln functioned as a general practitioner taking a wide variety of civil and criminal cases. Herndon did not disappoint his friend. He contributed to the practice by performing research for his older and more experienced partner building the firm's law library and overseeing young men who came to study law read the law at their office. Business began slowly for the new firm. Not until March 1845 was their first case heard in the Sangamon County Circuit Court. That first case was Hope v. Beebe et al and was action in debt with Lincoln and Herndon appearing for plaintiff and Logan for defendant. Here is a description of that case: A plaintiff Norwood had won a replevin suit against the Beebee also spelled Beebe Brothers in the U. S. Circuit Court Beebee Brothers v. Whitney & Norwood. Hope the marshal of the U. S. Circuit Court District of Illinois to help Norwood collect what he was owed retained Lincoln and Herndon and sued Beebee and others in an action of debt the intent being to collect money ordered paid by the court. Beebee and others named on the replevin bond in the federal suit failed to perform the obligation of bond - they did not or would not pay. Beebee claimed that he was unable to pay because of another suit that Norwood instituted against Beebee. On March 18 1845 the case was continued and heard again in July when Lincoln filed documents allowing for concessions on both sides. It was again continued until March of 1846. Lincoln with the help of Herndon then drafted another document seemingly pointing to the another aspect of the suit and explaining why the plaintiff should not have to drop the suit. In 1846 Lincoln was running for what would be his first elected position Congressman. In August he won that election and served one term. In March he was campaigning and seeking to gain support. Autograph document signed ""Lincoln & Herndon"" Springfield late March 1846 in the hand of both partners showing their collaboration. It begins in Lincoln's hand: “And for further replication"" before switching to Herndons for the lines"" to the said plea of the said defendants by them above pleaded said plaintiff says that to be further precluded from maintaining his said action against said defendants because of the matters in said plea alleged he ought not because he says that since the pleading of the last plea by said defendants to wit on — day of February AD 1846 the said replevin suit by the said Norwood and Turner against the said Beebees in the Said plea mentioned was by the same court at which it was pending determined in favor of the said Beebees and against the said Norwood and Turner and by the judgment of said court a return of the bacon in the plea mentioned.” Lincoln hand wrote the balance: “…Mentioned was awarded to the said Beebees and also adjudged that the said Beebees should recover of and from the said Norwood and Turner the sum of $650 damages and costs of suit and this he is ready to verify. Wherefore he prays judgment.” At that time Lincoln was preparing for his run for Congress his only national election until 1860. The parties would later reach an agreement in March 1847 and the court dismissed the case. Lincoln and Herndon received fees of $25 for their legal services. A final version of this filed document is published by the Papers of Abraham Lincoln as is the judge's further March 1846 continuance. The present document is three pieces affixed either by Lincoln or at a later date. This is the only paperwork from Lincoln and Herndon’s first case we have ever seen on the market. <img class=""alignnone size-post-window wp-image-25018"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20231204144051/Folder-site-11-1600x1327.jpg"" alt="""" width=""1600"" height=""1327"" /> unknown
1846Best.-Nr. 3117130/03/1846. At the time Lincoln wrote this he was running for Congress It shows the relationship between perhaps the most famous senior and junior law partners https://vimeo.com/943731365share=copy In his nearly 25 years as a lawyer in Springfield Illinois Abraham Lincoln had three partners. He joined John Todd Stuart as a junior partner then started a new practice as a junior partner with Stephen T. Logan. In 1844 Lincoln and Logan took on William H. Herndon. In the fall of 1844 Lincoln was tired of being a junior partner. He had worked for senior partners with political ambitions and Lincoln wanted a younger partner to whom he could relate. Logan and Lincoln dissolved their partnership in December 1844. Logan wanted to practice law with his son David and Lincoln wanted to start his own law firm. In October Lincoln invited his friend William Herndon to form a partnership with Herndon as junior partner. Thus was born Lincoln and Herndon. The firm would become a legend. In all three firms Lincoln functioned as a general practitioner taking a wide variety of civil and criminal cases. Herndon did not disappoint his friend. He contributed to the practice by performing research for his older and more experienced partner building the firm's law library and overseeing young men who came to study law read the law at their office. Business began slowly for the new firm. Not until March 1845 was their first case heard in the Sangamon County Circuit Court. That first case was Hope v. Beebe et al and was action in debt with Lincoln and Herndon appearing for plaintiff and Logan for defendant. Here is a description of that case: A plaintiff Norwood had won a replevin suit against the Beebee also spelled Beebe Brothers in the U. S. Circuit Court Beebee Brothers v. Whitney & Norwood. Hope the marshal of the U. S. Circuit Court District of Illinois to help Norwood collect what he was owed retained Lincoln and Herndon and sued Beebee and others in an action of debt the intent being to collect money ordered paid by the court. Beebee and others named on the replevin bond in the federal suit failed to perform the obligation of bond - they did not or would not pay. Beebee claimed that he was unable to pay because of another suit that Norwood instituted against Beebee. On March 18 1845 the case was continued and heard again in July when Lincoln filed documents allowing for concessions on both sides. It was again continued until March of 1846. Lincoln with the help of Herndon then drafted another document seemingly pointing to the another aspect of the suit and explaining why the plaintiff should not have to drop the suit. In 1846 Lincoln was running for what would be his first elected position Congressman. In August he won that election and served one term. In March he was campaigning and seeking to gain support. Autograph document signed ""Lincoln & Herndon"" Springfield late March 1846 in the hand of both partners showing their collaboration. It begins in Lincoln's hand: “And for further replication"" before switching to Herndons for the lines"" to the said plea of the said defendants by them above pleaded said plaintiff says that to be further precluded from maintaining his said action against said defendants because of the matters in said plea alleged he ought not because he says that since the pleading of the last plea by said defendants to wit on — day of February AD 1846 the said replevin suit by the said Norwood and Turner against the said Beebees in the Said plea mentioned was by the same court at which it was pending determined in favor of the said Beebees and against the said Norwood and Turner and by the judgment of said court a return of the bacon in the plea mentioned.” Lincoln hand wrote the balance: “…Mentioned was awarded to the said Beebees and also adjudged that the said Beebees should recover of and from the said Norwood and Turner the sum of $650 damages and costs of suit and this he is ready to verify. Wherefore he prays judgment.” At that time Lincoln was preparing for his run for Congress his only national election until 1860. The parties would later reach an agreement in March 1847 and the court dismissed the case. Lincoln and Herndon received fees of $25 for their legal services. A final version of this filed document is published by the Papers of Abraham Lincoln as is the judge's further March 1846 continuance. The present document is three pieces affixed either by Lincoln or at a later date. This is the only paperwork from Lincoln and Herndon’s first case we have ever seen on the market. <img class=""alignnone size-post-window wp-image-25018"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20231204144051/Folder-site-11-1600x1327.jpg"" alt="""" width=""1600"" height=""1327"" /> unknown books
1863Best.-Nr. 32820640Mammoth albumen print 17 ½ x 22 in mounted oval gilt-rule mat. Retouched vignetted enlargement. A few spots some toning. Very good condition. This famous "Gettysburg portrait" with Lincoln looking directly into the camera was made just days before he delivered the Gettysburg Address on November 19 1863. A giant of American photography Alexander Gardner is credited with introducing the large-format Imperial portrait to the United States while working as a staff photographer for Mathew Brady. Gardner left Brady's employ in early 1863 and his studio quickly rivaled Brady's for the quality and extent of its war and portrait photography. Gardner first photographed Lincoln as president-elect while working for Brady and he went on to take Lincoln's portrait more than any other photographer. Lincoln sat for Gardner on several occasions usually visiting his studio on Sunday to avoid crowds. Lincoln sat for this splendid portrait on Sunday November 8 1863. His private secretaries John Hay and John Nicolay joined him. Hay noted in his diary that "We had a great many pictures taken … some of the Prest. the best I have seen." This print emphasizes Lincoln's head and shoulders enlarging them to a size rarely seen. The gilt-ruled paper mat is characteristic of the 1860s and 1870s with this style of mat being popular during this period. Moses Rice subsequently had access to Gardner's negatives and routinely signed his prints with his name suggesting that Gardner himself made this enlargement. He died in 1882. The photography session of November 8 1863 also produced the mammoth portrait we offer for $95000. That photograph and the present are among the only early mammoth Lincoln portraits we have ever encountered. This is the only mammoth example of the famous Gettysburg portrait that we have seen. Ostendorf O-77
1851Best.-Nr. 3655813/09/1851. This is our first such document <img class=""alignnone wp-image-36570 size-post-window"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20260526171629/Lincoln-Sept-13-1851-1-1600x604.jpg"" alt="""" width=""1600"" height=""604"" /> John H. Harris was a hatter in New York and then in South Carolina. In 1833 he came to Illinois to scout the land and in 1835 he returned with a group of prospective settlers from New York who established themselves in what became the town of Tremont. Harris laid out the village built a schoolhouse and built a church. He was clearly a major local booster and land developer. When there was a possibility for Tremont to become the county seat of Tazewell County in 1836 John Harris donated 20 acres of land and the citizens raised $2000 to bring the county seat to the town. Harris married Catharine Montross in 1815 with whom he had four children before her death. In 1843 he married Sarah Holder with whom he had one child. In 1860 Harris was a farmer living in Tremont with his second wife and their son and he owned $5000 in real estate and $400 in personal property. Abraham Lincoln represented Harris in three cases in the Tazewell County Circuit Court two of which he won and one of which Lincoln lost and appealed to the Illinois Supreme Court. This is the famous case of Harris v. Shaw. In 1850 Harris brought suit in the Tazewell County Circuit Court to obtain compensation by reason of the removal of the county seat of Tazewell County from Tremont to Pekin. This was because of his gift of the piece of ground in the public square of Tremont to the county on the condition that the county seat be located there. The judgment of the Court was against Harris and he carried the case to the Supreme Court of the State of Illinois. He employed Lincoln as his attorney. The Supreme Court case was heard on Jan. 24th and 25th 1851 in the city of Springfield. It was taken under advisement by the Court. Almost a year later February 4 1852 the Supreme Court finally affirmed the judgment of the lower court on the premise that in no part of the contract between Harris and the County was it stated that the county seat should remain forever as located. So Lincoln lost this case. As for Lincoln’s fee for the case and appeal he received $50 in cash upfront and a promissory note for another $100 due a year later — a total fee of $150 for the case. It is interesting to note that Lincoln had argued a similar case shortly before Harris v Shaw. This one was Adams et al. v the County of Logan and he had represented the County - and won. This is a very rare receipt for Lincoln’s legal services. It is our first. Autograph document signed Pekin Ill. September 13 1851. “Received Pekin Sept. 13th 1851 of John H. Harris fifty dollars in cash and his note for one hundred dollars due one year hence in full for my services done and to be done about his suit for the old court house property at Tremont. A. Lincoln.” In another earlier case in which Harris used Lincoln’s legal services Harris sued a Mr. Dean in an action of debt. The ruled against Harris and Harris retained Lincoln and appealed to the Tazewell County Circuit Court. A jury found for Harris and awarded him $19.95. <img class=""alignnone wp-image-25018 size-post-window"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20231204144051/Folder-site-11-1600x1327.jpg"" alt=""historical memorabilia dealer"" width=""1600"" height=""1327"" /> unknown
1851Best.-Nr. 3655813/09/1851. This is our first such document <img class=""alignnone wp-image-36570 size-post-window"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20260526171629/Lincoln-Sept-13-1851-1-1600x604.jpg"" alt="""" width=""1600"" height=""604"" /> John H. Harris was a hatter in New York and then in South Carolina. In 1833 he came to Illinois to scout the land and in 1835 he returned with a group of prospective settlers from New York who established themselves in what became the town of Tremont. Harris laid out the village built a schoolhouse and built a church. He was clearly a major local booster and land developer. When there was a possibility for Tremont to become the county seat of Tazewell County in 1836 John Harris donated 20 acres of land and the citizens raised $2000 to bring the county seat to the town. Harris married Catharine Montross in 1815 with whom he had four children before her death. In 1843 he married Sarah Holder with whom he had one child. In 1860 Harris was a farmer living in Tremont with his second wife and their son and he owned $5000 in real estate and $400 in personal property. Abraham Lincoln represented Harris in three cases in the Tazewell County Circuit Court two of which he won and one of which Lincoln lost and appealed to the Illinois Supreme Court. This is the famous case of Harris v. Shaw. In 1850 Harris brought suit in the Tazewell County Circuit Court to obtain compensation by reason of the removal of the county seat of Tazewell County from Tremont to Pekin. This was because of his gift of the piece of ground in the public square of Tremont to the county on the condition that the county seat be located there. The judgment of the Court was against Harris and he carried the case to the Supreme Court of the State of Illinois. He employed Lincoln as his attorney. The Supreme Court case was heard on Jan. 24th and 25th 1851 in the city of Springfield. It was taken under advisement by the Court. Almost a year later February 4 1852 the Supreme Court finally affirmed the judgment of the lower court on the premise that in no part of the contract between Harris and the County was it stated that the county seat should remain forever as located. So Lincoln lost this case. As for Lincoln’s fee for the case and appeal he received $50 in cash upfront and a promissory note for another $100 due a year later — a total fee of $150 for the case. It is interesting to note that Lincoln had argued a similar case shortly before Harris v Shaw. This one was Adams et al. v the County of Logan and he had represented the County - and won. This is a very rare receipt for Lincoln’s legal services. It is our first. Autograph document signed Pekin Ill. September 13 1851. “Received Pekin Sept. 13th 1851 of John H. Harris fifty dollars in cash and his note for one hundred dollars due one year hence in full for my services done and to be done about his suit for the old court house property at Tremont. A. Lincoln.” In another earlier case in which Harris used Lincoln’s legal services Harris sued a Mr. Dean in an action of debt. The ruled against Harris and Harris retained Lincoln and appealed to the Tazewell County Circuit Court. A jury found for Harris and awarded him $19.95. <img class=""alignnone wp-image-25018 size-post-window"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20231204144051/Folder-site-11-1600x1327.jpg"" alt=""historical memorabilia dealer"" width=""1600"" height=""1327"" /> unknown books
1863Best.-Nr. 192290Springfield Illinois: 22 January 1863. Lincoln intercedes for two runaway boys On the verso of a letter to Stanton from Illinois Governor Richard Yates 1815-1873 the president writes "The families to which these boys belong are among my old acquaintances. A. Lincoln. Jan. 22 1863". Yates 1815-1873 was a longtime friend of Lincoln's. His letter dated 12 January 1863 states that "Thomas E. Clark and Jonathan C. Bergen of Petersburg in this state respectively 17 and 16 years of age left home some time during the last month without the consent of their parents and joined the 2nd Reg't U.S Cavalry stationed at Carlyle Barrack Pa". Yates requests to Stanton that "Messrs Clark & Bergen are both respectable & loyal citizens and you will oblige me by discharging these boys from the service of the United States". Petersburg Illinois is near New Salem where Lincoln lived from 1831 to 1837. Lincoln also received letters from the fathers George S. Bergen and David Clark which he referred to the Adjutant General of the Army Lorenzo Thomas on 21 January Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln Vol. 8 1953 p. 509. Although no one under 18 could legally enlist without the written consent of a parent or guardian many did so. By one recent estimate underage enlistees accounted for roughly a tenth of the Union forces Clarke & Plant. Parents filed thousands of petitions with Union authorities and state courts to secure their children's discharge. Here the families were sufficiently well-connected to appeal at the highest level; Lincoln's endorsement implies that the request was granted. Provenance: Elsie O. and Philip D. Sang their sale at Sotheby Parke Bernet 1978 lot 484; Louise Taper Beverly Hills California; acquired by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Foundation as part of the Taper Collection 2007; sold by the Foundation at Freeman's Hindman in their Lincoln's Legacy sale 2025 lot 78. Single sheet on State of Illinois Executive Department letterhead 253 x 197 mm handwritten by Yates on recto endorsed by Lincoln on verso. Central folds repaired still in very good condition. The endorsement is published in Roy P. Basler The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln First Supplement 1974 page 175. Frances M. Clarke & Rebecca Jo Plant Of Age: Boy Soldiers and Military Power in the Civil War Era 2022. unknown
1861Best.-Nr. 377541861. It also includes the rules issued to the incoming prisoners taken in during the suspension of Habeas Corpus at the infamous Fort Lafayette by its Commander Charles Wood A remarkable group without precedent in its scope in our experience <img class=""alignnone wp-image-37759 size-post-window"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20260902194337/Lincoln-Oct-29-1861-1-1600x948.jpg"" alt="""" width=""1600"" height=""948"" /> In the opening months of 1861 with South Carolina out of the Union and other Southern states having called conventions to declare secession feeling was divided in Maryland. The tobacco counties of southern Maryland and the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay were secessionist. The grain-growing counties of northern and western Maryland containing few slaves were safe for the Union. But the loyalty of Baltimore with a third of the state’s population was suspect. President-elect Lincoln had to pass through Baltimore on his way to Washington for his inauguration. Allan Pinkerton's detectives uncovered a plot to murder him as he moved through Baltimore so he famously had to pass through in stealth and disguise. After the war broke out on April 12 1861 Confederate flags appeared on many Baltimore homes and buildings. On April 19 as the 6th Massachusetts Infantry marched through Baltimore headed to protect the capital there was a riot and a number of soldiers were killed by the mob. Pro-Confederate Baltimore activists cut the telegraph lines north pulled marking buoys from the harbor to prevent ship entry and destroyed bridges to make train access almost impossible while groups of citizens went to the White House to demand that no Northern troops be sent through Baltimore. In these early days of the war chaos reigned and suspicions of Southern sympathies were readily flung. John Williams a Baltimore-born steamship agent who had spent several years living and working in Norfolk Virginia was one of them. In early August 1861 Williams traveled to Boston where he checked into the Parker House under a false name and had shaved his mustache. The city's U.S. Marshal alerted that a man of some prominence from ""Secessia"" was in town traced him through the office of a steamship company after a two-day search. Once apprehended Williams acknowledged his true identity and according to a contemporary newspaper account of the arrest admitted to holding a commission — that of Major — in the Confederate army though the report qualified this as secondhand information and it may not have been so. The New York Times reprinted a story from the Boston Herald that covered his arrest under the headline ""Rebel Spy Arrested in Boston."" He said he had been in Richmond on the day of the Battle of Bull Run and that his purpose in Boston was to arrange payment for cotton belonging to Massachusetts owners that had been left in his charge as steamship agent and subsequently seized by Confederate authorities in Virginia. He was arrested and confined at Fort Lafayette the infamous military prison in New York Harbor then holding dozens of similarly detained civilians including several of Baltimore's arrested police commissioners and the sitting mayor of Washington D.C. In immediate command over the Fort Lafayette prisoners was Lieutenant Charles 0. Wood who was described as “brutal” by many of the prisoners. He had been a baggage handler on the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad before the war and had received his commission it was said from President Lincoln as a reward for successfully smuggling Lincoln’s baggage through Baltimore prior to his inaugurations When originally converted to a prison the fort was believed capable of holding up to fifty POWs. From the very beginning however twenty were held in each battery while nine to ten were held in each casemate. Before long there were often thirty-five to a battery and up to thirty in a casemate. . . . When the prisoners arrived at Fort Lafayette they were escorted to the office of Lieutenant Wood where again they were searched and had their names recorded. All their money was confiscated; they were given a receipt and then shown to their quarters. Williams's family and friends mounted a sustained campaign on his behalf almost immediately. Character references arrived from Norfolk and Baltimore attesting to his loyalty and denying he held any real military rank or authority — an odd claim given his own admission. His wife unable to reach Union territory easily from Confederate-held Norfolk required a military flag of truce simply to travel north. In the end her plight would make it from John Dix to Winfield Scott to William Seward to Abraham Lincoln. By late September Williams had declined to take the oath of allegiance required for release; by early October the War Department set firm terms — the oath plus a personal bond of $10000 guaranteeing his future loyalty to be approved by the United States District Attorney. A bond in that amount was drawn up in New York in late October executed jointly by Williams's son as principal and four sureties including Williams's own father and three other men. A joint bond however exposed each surety to the entire $10000 obligation should any of the others prove unable to pay — a meaningful risk for men who in some cases were only business or personal connections rather than family. Baltimore's Provost Marshal George R. Dodge functioned as the intermediary between the family and the military/War Department chain — writing on Williams's behalf to Butler and Dix forwarding Seward's letters relaying Dix's instructions. Williams's wife Cecilia decided to travel directly to Washington meet the President and press for her son's release and for the bond to be restructured so that each surety's liability would be several or individually fixed rather than joint. After a full day of frustration — hours waiting at the White House hours more waiting for Secretary of State Seward who never appeared — she and a companion finally intercepted President Lincoln in person. He heard her out and in a tone characteristically restrained even in victory said that while he never interfered with his Secretary of State's decisions he thought the bond might indeed be made several rather than joint. He gave her a note to that effect. Within days the change was formally authorized: each of the four sureties would be liable for $2500 rather than the whole $10000. Williams was released from Fort Lafayette sometime in the following weeks and was corresponding freely from his father's Baltimore address by mid-December 1861. <img class=""alignnone wp-image-37760 size-post-window"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20260902194446/Lincoln-Oct-29-1861-B-1-1600x869.jpg"" alt="""" width=""1600"" height=""869"" /> The 19-piece archive: There is a nineteen-piece archive documenting running from prison regulations issued days before Williams's arrival at Fort Lafayette through correspondence addressed to him as a free man in Baltimore that December. Selected items are transcribed here in full; the remainder are described and available for inspection. - The note Lincoln handed Williams' mother after encountering her walking by the White House fence Autograph document signed Washington October 29 1861 directing Seward to see Mrs. Williams given to Mrs. Williams by a fence post in the garden of the White House. ""Sec. of State please see this lady – She wishes the bond may be several & not joint. I think it might be so. A. Lincoln."" - An original set of rules for Fort Lafayette prisoners signed by the head of prisoners Charles Wood. Document signed Fort Lafayette August 3 1861. ""Instructions for the Guidance of Citizen Prisoners confined at this Post"" Fort Lafayette N.Y.H. August 3 1861. Standing prison regulations issued before Williams's own arrival transcribed here in full: Regulations for the guidance of Citizen Prisoners confined at this Post. §1. The rooms of the prisoners will be ready for inspection at 9 o'clock A.M. all cleaning etc. will be done by the Prisoners themselves unless otherwise directed all washing will be done in the yard. §2. No conversation will be allowed with any member of this garrison and all necessary communications in regard to their wants will be made to the Sergeant of the Guard. §3. No Prisoner will leave his room without the permission of the Sergt. of the Guard who will allow them to go to the privy every other hour during day time and twice after midnight at night. §4. Prisoners will avoid all conversations on the political affairs of this Country within hearing of any member of this garrison. §5. Light will be allowed in the prisoners' rooms until 9.15 P.M. after this hour all talking or noise of any kind will cease. §6. The Prisoners will obey implicitly the directions of any member of the Guard. §7. Cases of sickness should be reported at 7 A.M. §8. Any transgressions of the foregoing rules will be corrected by solitary confinement or such other restrictions as may be required to the strict enforcement thereof."" - Winfield Scott intervenes permitting Cecilia Williams to visit her husband. Letter signed Winfield Scott Head Quarters of the Army Washington October 25 1861. ""Mrs. Cecilia A. Williams will be permitted to visit her husband John Williams a prisoner confined at Fort Lafayette. Winfield Scott."" - Cecilia Williams describes her meeting with Lincoln and her receipt of this note. Autograph letter signed Cecilia A. Williams to her father Baltimore October 31 1861. ""My dear Father After a hard days work I take my pen to endeavor to explain matters to you. I wrote you we were going to Washington. Accordingly on Tuesday night I went to Mr. Mentyell's house that we might be able to start in the early train. We arrived in Washington soon after daylight Wednesday and went to the President's house and sent up our letter but there were already 20 persons waiting for him and we were told to call at 1 o'clock as that was the best time for ladies. We then went to the State Department but Mr. Seward was not to be seen. His son read our letter from Gen. Dix and when we explained what we wanted he thought it could be done. We waited 3 hours for Secretary Seward but he did not come and we went back to the President caught him finally in a fence corner and told him what we wanted. He understood the matter directly and said though he never interfered with the Secretary yet he thought the bond might be made severally instead of jointly and gave us a note to Mr. Seward to that effect. We then returned to the State Department and saw his son again. He said it was no use to wait for his father that the proper documents would be sent to the District attorney in Balt. this Thursday morning. We returned to Balt. in the afternoon train and bright and early this morning Mr. Mentyell and myself went to Mr. Addison's office saying if Mr. Seward's letter came to hand saying that the other parties were reliable men the bond might be severally instead of jointly. Mr. Addison said we could have another bond drawn up and get it signed and sealed and get a letter from Mr. Deford saying the securities were reliable and he would fix it with the District Attorney in New York. We then went by Mr. Addison's instructions to Mr. Hanan U.S. Commissioner and he drew up the bond and we brought the signers except yourself to his office and had everything fixed and sealed with the U. States Seal and took it with Mr. Deford's letter saying the securities were reliable to Mr. Addison. He first said we could send it on by our friend Mr. Lawton but on reading Mr. Seward's letter a second time he said there was a mistake and the bond would have to go to Washington and be forwarded to the district attorney in New York. He promised me faithfully he would write to Mr. Seward this afternoon and send it and the bond on and also mention for fear of another delay that Fort Lafayette struck through should be changed to Fort Warren. ""Now my dear father do not be discouraged I am very hopeful that it is nearer right than it has ever been because we have both Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Seward in our favor and the most you can do is to see the district attorney constantly because it is to be sent to him and you must put your signature to make the bond complete. It is best therefore for you to be in New York because as soon as it comes to the attorney you can sign and I would not hesitate to press my suit keep at him till it is finished night and day but I need not urge you I know your perseverance. ""I wish you would telegraph as soon as it comes we will be so much relieved but Mr. Mentyell and I are going again to Washington on Saturday to see if the papers have been sent on and that I hope will be the last of your travelling and mine on this errand and soon we hope to have you both with us. My trust and confidence is in my Heavenly Father that he will give us the desire of our heart. P.S. I suppose there is no doubt about his taking the oath now do you think there is after all this extra trouble Perhaps you had better write and tell him and comfort him all you can. I think all now will depend on himself in haste. Does he know that he has to take the oath and give bond also"" <img class=""alignnone wp-image-37761 size-post-window"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20260902194603/Lincoln-Oct-29-1861-C-1-1600x951.jpg"" alt="""" width=""1600"" height=""951"" /> There are other documents in the group including: - Fort Lafayette receipt August 11 1861 for $59.89 in cash taken from Williams on intake itemized as good paper bank notes gold and silver. - A three-part exchange August 13–15 1861 concerning a visit by Williams's father signed by General J. Dix George Dodge and Col. Martin Burke attempting successfully to enlist the help of Winfield Scott. - Letter from a Lt. Wm. H. Wiegel to Cecilia Williams Norfolk Va. Fortress Monroe August 21 1861 forwarding a letter from her brother via flag of truce and offering to arrange her safe passage to Baltimore through Confederate lines. - Letter of introduction Naval Office Custom House Baltimore August 31 1861 to Simon Cameron Secretary of War vouching for Williams as ""a firm supporter of the government."" - Letter from Marshall George R. Dodge to Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler Baltimore September 12 1861 stating that Williams ""arrested in Boston as a rebel and charged with having been commissioned by the Confederate authorities has not at any time been under our surveillance"" and that Baltimore authorities had no charge against him. - A long Norfolk citizens' affidavit undated attesting to the fact that Williams was a simple commercial agent and had no military commission signed by several prominent businessmen. - Retained copies of letters of Secretary Seward and a letter of Dodge forwarding at least one. - Letter sending a pass from Lt. H. Van Rensselaer to Mrs. C. A. Williams October 25 1861 stating that: ""I enclose pass to visit your husband no passes are given to males."" - The original $10000 indemnity bond dated October 26/27 1861. A printed instrument docket: ""Dated October 26th 1861""; body: ""twenty-seventh day of October"" binding John Williams Jr. as principal and John Williams Sr. Thomas Jenkins James Flack and George McComas as sureties jointly in the sum of $10000 conditioned on Williams's observance of his oath of allegiance. Witnessed by E. Delafield Smith and Stewart L. Woodford notary public; affidavits of the sureties' worth sworn before John Hanan U.S. Commissioner October 27 1861. - Undated pass ""Pass the bearer to and from Fort Warren"" to Capt. Davidson Steamer Asst. signed Wm. H. McKim Capt. A.Q.M. - Letter from the same Chas. F. Wood now 1st Lieut. 9th Infty to John Williams Esq. Baltimore December 16 1861. Returning his pistol and noting four others belonging to fellow prisoners were sent to Col. Dimmick commanding Fort Warren. A remarkably complete archive showing not only Lincoln's clemency but the chaos and accusations of the early months of the war and containing a first hand account of meeting Lincoln himself. <img class=""alignnone wp-image-25018 size-post-window"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20231204144051/Folder-site-11-1600x1327.jpg"" alt=""historical memorabilia dealer"" width=""1600"" height=""1327"" /> unknown
1861Best.-Nr. 377541861. It also includes the rules issued to the incoming prisoners taken in during the suspension of Habeas Corpus at the infamous Fort Lafayette by its Commander Charles Wood A remarkable group without precedent in its scope in our experience <img class=""alignnone wp-image-37759 size-post-window"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20260902194337/Lincoln-Oct-29-1861-1-1600x948.jpg"" alt="""" width=""1600"" height=""948"" /> In the opening months of 1861 with South Carolina out of the Union and other Southern states having called conventions to declare secession feeling was divided in Maryland. The tobacco counties of southern Maryland and the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay were secessionist. The grain-growing counties of northern and western Maryland containing few slaves were safe for the Union. But the loyalty of Baltimore with a third of the state’s population was suspect. President-elect Lincoln had to pass through Baltimore on his way to Washington for his inauguration. Allan Pinkerton's detectives uncovered a plot to murder him as he moved through Baltimore so he famously had to pass through in stealth and disguise. After the war broke out on April 12 1861 Confederate flags appeared on many Baltimore homes and buildings. On April 19 as the 6th Massachusetts Infantry marched through Baltimore headed to protect the capital there was a riot and a number of soldiers were killed by the mob. Pro-Confederate Baltimore activists cut the telegraph lines north pulled marking buoys from the harbor to prevent ship entry and destroyed bridges to make train access almost impossible while groups of citizens went to the White House to demand that no Northern troops be sent through Baltimore. In these early days of the war chaos reigned and suspicions of Southern sympathies were readily flung. John Williams a Baltimore-born steamship agent who had spent several years living and working in Norfolk Virginia was one of them. In early August 1861 Williams traveled to Boston where he checked into the Parker House under a false name and had shaved his mustache. The city's U.S. Marshal alerted that a man of some prominence from ""Secessia"" was in town traced him through the office of a steamship company after a two-day search. Once apprehended Williams acknowledged his true identity and according to a contemporary newspaper account of the arrest admitted to holding a commission — that of Major — in the Confederate army though the report qualified this as secondhand information and it may not have been so. The New York Times reprinted a story from the Boston Herald that covered his arrest under the headline ""Rebel Spy Arrested in Boston."" He said he had been in Richmond on the day of the Battle of Bull Run and that his purpose in Boston was to arrange payment for cotton belonging to Massachusetts owners that had been left in his charge as steamship agent and subsequently seized by Confederate authorities in Virginia. He was arrested and confined at Fort Lafayette the infamous military prison in New York Harbor then holding dozens of similarly detained civilians including several of Baltimore's arrested police commissioners and the sitting mayor of Washington D.C. In immediate command over the Fort Lafayette prisoners was Lieutenant Charles 0. Wood who was described as “brutal” by many of the prisoners. He had been a baggage handler on the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad before the war and had received his commission it was said from President Lincoln as a reward for successfully smuggling Lincoln’s baggage through Baltimore prior to his inaugurations When originally converted to a prison the fort was believed capable of holding up to fifty POWs. From the very beginning however twenty were held in each battery while nine to ten were held in each casemate. Before long there were often thirty-five to a battery and up to thirty in a casemate. . . . When the prisoners arrived at Fort Lafayette they were escorted to the office of Lieutenant Wood where again they were searched and had their names recorded. All their money was confiscated; they were given a receipt and then shown to their quarters. Williams's family and friends mounted a sustained campaign on his behalf almost immediately. Character references arrived from Norfolk and Baltimore attesting to his loyalty and denying he held any real military rank or authority — an odd claim given his own admission. His wife unable to reach Union territory easily from Confederate-held Norfolk required a military flag of truce simply to travel north. In the end her plight would make it from John Dix to Winfield Scott to William Seward to Abraham Lincoln. By late September Williams had declined to take the oath of allegiance required for release; by early October the War Department set firm terms — the oath plus a personal bond of $10000 guaranteeing his future loyalty to be approved by the United States District Attorney. A bond in that amount was drawn up in New York in late October executed jointly by Williams's son as principal and four sureties including Williams's own father and three other men. A joint bond however exposed each surety to the entire $10000 obligation should any of the others prove unable to pay — a meaningful risk for men who in some cases were only business or personal connections rather than family. Baltimore's Provost Marshal George R. Dodge functioned as the intermediary between the family and the military/War Department chain — writing on Williams's behalf to Butler and Dix forwarding Seward's letters relaying Dix's instructions. Williams's wife Cecilia decided to travel directly to Washington meet the President and press for her son's release and for the bond to be restructured so that each surety's liability would be several or individually fixed rather than joint. After a full day of frustration — hours waiting at the White House hours more waiting for Secretary of State Seward who never appeared — she and a companion finally intercepted President Lincoln in person. He heard her out and in a tone characteristically restrained even in victory said that while he never interfered with his Secretary of State's decisions he thought the bond might indeed be made several rather than joint. He gave her a note to that effect. Within days the change was formally authorized: each of the four sureties would be liable for $2500 rather than the whole $10000. Williams was released from Fort Lafayette sometime in the following weeks and was corresponding freely from his father's Baltimore address by mid-December 1861. <img class=""alignnone wp-image-37760 size-post-window"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20260902194446/Lincoln-Oct-29-1861-B-1-1600x869.jpg"" alt="""" width=""1600"" height=""869"" /> The 19-piece archive: There is a nineteen-piece archive documenting running from prison regulations issued days before Williams's arrival at Fort Lafayette through correspondence addressed to him as a free man in Baltimore that December. Selected items are transcribed here in full; the remainder are described and available for inspection. - The note Lincoln handed Williams' mother after encountering her walking by the White House fence Autograph document signed Washington October 29 1861 directing Seward to see Mrs. Williams given to Mrs. Williams by a fence post in the garden of the White House. ""Sec. of State please see this lady – She wishes the bond may be several & not joint. I think it might be so. A. Lincoln."" - An original set of rules for Fort Lafayette prisoners signed by the head of prisoners Charles Wood. Document signed Fort Lafayette August 3 1861. ""Instructions for the Guidance of Citizen Prisoners confined at this Post"" Fort Lafayette N.Y.H. August 3 1861. Standing prison regulations issued before Williams's own arrival transcribed here in full: Regulations for the guidance of Citizen Prisoners confined at this Post. §1. The rooms of the prisoners will be ready for inspection at 9 o'clock A.M. all cleaning etc. will be done by the Prisoners themselves unless otherwise directed all washing will be done in the yard. §2. No conversation will be allowed with any member of this garrison and all necessary communications in regard to their wants will be made to the Sergeant of the Guard. §3. No Prisoner will leave his room without the permission of the Sergt. of the Guard who will allow them to go to the privy every other hour during day time and twice after midnight at night. §4. Prisoners will avoid all conversations on the political affairs of this Country within hearing of any member of this garrison. §5. Light will be allowed in the prisoners' rooms until 9.15 P.M. after this hour all talking or noise of any kind will cease. §6. The Prisoners will obey implicitly the directions of any member of the Guard. §7. Cases of sickness should be reported at 7 A.M. §8. Any transgressions of the foregoing rules will be corrected by solitary confinement or such other restrictions as may be required to the strict enforcement thereof."" - Winfield Scott intervenes permitting Cecilia Williams to visit her husband. Letter signed Winfield Scott Head Quarters of the Army Washington October 25 1861. ""Mrs. Cecilia A. Williams will be permitted to visit her husband John Williams a prisoner confined at Fort Lafayette. Winfield Scott."" - Cecilia Williams describes her meeting with Lincoln and her receipt of this note. Autograph letter signed Cecilia A. Williams to her father Baltimore October 31 1861. ""My dear Father After a hard days work I take my pen to endeavor to explain matters to you. I wrote you we were going to Washington. Accordingly on Tuesday night I went to Mr. Mentyell's house that we might be able to start in the early train. We arrived in Washington soon after daylight Wednesday and went to the President's house and sent up our letter but there were already 20 persons waiting for him and we were told to call at 1 o'clock as that was the best time for ladies. We then went to the State Department but Mr. Seward was not to be seen. His son read our letter from Gen. Dix and when we explained what we wanted he thought it could be done. We waited 3 hours for Secretary Seward but he did not come and we went back to the President caught him finally in a fence corner and told him what we wanted. He understood the matter directly and said though he never interfered with the Secretary yet he thought the bond might be made severally instead of jointly and gave us a note to Mr. Seward to that effect. We then returned to the State Department and saw his son again. He said it was no use to wait for his father that the proper documents would be sent to the District attorney in Balt. this Thursday morning. We returned to Balt. in the afternoon train and bright and early this morning Mr. Mentyell and myself went to Mr. Addison's office saying if Mr. Seward's letter came to hand saying that the other parties were reliable men the bond might be severally instead of jointly. Mr. Addison said we could have another bond drawn up and get it signed and sealed and get a letter from Mr. Deford saying the securities were reliable and he would fix it with the District Attorney in New York. We then went by Mr. Addison's instructions to Mr. Hanan U.S. Commissioner and he drew up the bond and we brought the signers except yourself to his office and had everything fixed and sealed with the U. States Seal and took it with Mr. Deford's letter saying the securities were reliable to Mr. Addison. He first said we could send it on by our friend Mr. Lawton but on reading Mr. Seward's letter a second time he said there was a mistake and the bond would have to go to Washington and be forwarded to the district attorney in New York. He promised me faithfully he would write to Mr. Seward this afternoon and send it and the bond on and also mention for fear of another delay that Fort Lafayette struck through should be changed to Fort Warren. ""Now my dear father do not be discouraged I am very hopeful that it is nearer right than it has ever been because we have both Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Seward in our favor and the most you can do is to see the district attorney constantly because it is to be sent to him and you must put your signature to make the bond complete. It is best therefore for you to be in New York because as soon as it comes to the attorney you can sign and I would not hesitate to press my suit keep at him till it is finished night and day but I need not urge you I know your perseverance. ""I wish you would telegraph as soon as it comes we will be so much relieved but Mr. Mentyell and I are going again to Washington on Saturday to see if the papers have been sent on and that I hope will be the last of your travelling and mine on this errand and soon we hope to have you both with us. My trust and confidence is in my Heavenly Father that he will give us the desire of our heart. P.S. I suppose there is no doubt about his taking the oath now do you think there is after all this extra trouble Perhaps you had better write and tell him and comfort him all you can. I think all now will depend on himself in haste. Does he know that he has to take the oath and give bond also"" <img class=""alignnone wp-image-37761 size-post-window"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20260902194603/Lincoln-Oct-29-1861-C-1-1600x951.jpg"" alt="""" width=""1600"" height=""951"" /> There are other documents in the group including: - Fort Lafayette receipt August 11 1861 for $59.89 in cash taken from Williams on intake itemized as good paper bank notes gold and silver. - A three-part exchange August 13–15 1861 concerning a visit by Williams's father signed by General J. Dix George Dodge and Col. Martin Burke attempting successfully to enlist the help of Winfield Scott. - Letter from a Lt. Wm. H. Wiegel to Cecilia Williams Norfolk Va. Fortress Monroe August 21 1861 forwarding a letter from her brother via flag of truce and offering to arrange her safe passage to Baltimore through Confederate lines. - Letter of introduction Naval Office Custom House Baltimore August 31 1861 to Simon Cameron Secretary of War vouching for Williams as ""a firm supporter of the government."" - Letter from Marshall George R. Dodge to Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler Baltimore September 12 1861 stating that Williams ""arrested in Boston as a rebel and charged with having been commissioned by the Confederate authorities has not at any time been under our surveillance"" and that Baltimore authorities had no charge against him. - A long Norfolk citizens' affidavit undated attesting to the fact that Williams was a simple commercial agent and had no military commission signed by several prominent businessmen. - Retained copies of letters of Secretary Seward and a letter of Dodge forwarding at least one. - Letter sending a pass from Lt. H. Van Rensselaer to Mrs. C. A. Williams October 25 1861 stating that: ""I enclose pass to visit your husband no passes are given to males."" - The original $10000 indemnity bond dated October 26/27 1861. A printed instrument docket: ""Dated October 26th 1861""; body: ""twenty-seventh day of October"" binding John Williams Jr. as principal and John Williams Sr. Thomas Jenkins James Flack and George McComas as sureties jointly in the sum of $10000 conditioned on Williams's observance of his oath of allegiance. Witnessed by E. Delafield Smith and Stewart L. Woodford notary public; affidavits of the sureties' worth sworn before John Hanan U.S. Commissioner October 27 1861. - Undated pass ""Pass the bearer to and from Fort Warren"" to Capt. Davidson Steamer Asst. signed Wm. H. McKim Capt. A.Q.M. - Letter from the same Chas. F. Wood now 1st Lieut. 9th Infty to John Williams Esq. Baltimore December 16 1861. Returning his pistol and noting four others belonging to fellow prisoners were sent to Col. Dimmick commanding Fort Warren. A remarkably complete archive showing not only Lincoln's clemency but the chaos and accusations of the early months of the war and containing a first hand account of meeting Lincoln himself. <img class=""alignnone wp-image-25018 size-post-window"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20231204144051/Folder-site-11-1600x1327.jpg"" alt=""historical memorabilia dealer"" width=""1600"" height=""1327"" /> unknown books
1720Best.-Nr. 37027A AMSTERDAM: TOMO 1º 4ª et Dernière Edition corrigée et augmentée Chez Zacharie Chatelain 1739 Avec Privilege; TOMO 2º primera parte Nouvelle Edition Chez L'Honore & Chatelain Libraires 1720; TOMO 3º o segunda parte del tomo segundo Nouvelle Edition Chez L'Honore & Châtelain Libraires 1720; TOMO 4º Nouvelle Edition revue corrigée et considerablement augmentée Chez Zacharie Chatelain 1725; TOMO 5º Seconde Edition corrigée et augmentée Chez Zacharie Châtelain 1732 Avec Privilege; TOMO 6º Seconde Edition corrigée et augmentée Chez Zacharie Chatelain 1732 Avec Privilege; TOMO 7º & dernier Chez Zacharie Chatelain Libraire 1732 Avec Privilege.- CONTIENE CADA VOLUMEN: TOMO 1º 8 h. 8p. 2 h. 2 h. 8 p. 2 h. 9-24 p. 14 h. 25-38 p. 5 h. 39-50 p. 3 h. 51-66 p. 10 h. 67-74 p. 12 h. 75-82 p. 8 h.: Con 46 grabados al cobre a saber 1 in-frontis grabado por B. Picort 26 mapas plegados 19 cuadros genealógicos heráldicos y cuadros sinópticos de historia muchos plegados. TOMO 2º primera parte 8 h. 12 p. 6 h. 13-18 p. 5 h. 19-30 p. 4 h. 31-44 p. 4 h. 45-58 p. 12 h. 59-66 p. 17 h. 67-90 p. 6 h.: Con 37 grabados al cobre a saber 1 in-frontis grabado por Sluyter 12 mapas plegados 25 cuadros genealógicos heráldicos y síntesis históricas muchos plegados hasta en tres partes / además 7 textos impresos que van numerados correlativamente con los grabados. TOMO 3º o segunda parte del tomo segundo 6 h. 91-120 p. 20 h. 121-130 p. 6 h. 131-136 p. 17 h. 137-144 p. 10 h. 145-154 p. 4 h. 155-162 p. 8 h. 2 h.: Con 30 grabados al cobre a saber 18 mapas muchos plegados 12 cuadros genealógicos históricos administrativos etc. bellamente ilustrados / además 6 textos impresos con aclaraciones históricas que van numerados correlativamente con los grabados. TOMO 4º 6 h. 14 p. 5 h. 15-62 p. 31 h. 63-70 p. 19 h. 71-86 p. 6 h. 87-98 p. 13 h.: Con 30 grabados al cobre a saber 1 in-frontis por P. Siurter 15 mapas plegados 18 cuadros genealógicos láminas de costumbres y enumeración de muchas casas reales con sus reyes escudos de armas y blasones. TOMO 5º 4 h. IV p. 2 h. 196 p. pero son 198 p. ya que se repite por error el nº 127-128 : Con 58 grabados al cobre a saber 1 in-frontis 13 mapas plegados 44 cuadros genealógicos sinopsis históricas cuadros de costumbres con ilustraciones. TOMO 6º 1 h. IV p. 2 h. 166 p. por error de impresión la página nº 48 figura con el nº 41 pero continúa correctamente la numeración: Con 38 grabados al cobre a saber 16 mapas plegados 22 láminas con sinopsis históricas cuadros de costumbres plantas y animales descripción y planos de ciudades reyes etc. NO TIENE LA LAMINA Nº 30 "CARTE TRES CURIEUSE DE LA MER DU SUD" PERO HA SIDO FIELMENTE REPRODUCIDA EN FACSIMIL Y ESTA BELLAMENTE ILUMINADA. TOMO 7º 2 h. IV p. 2 h. 112 p.: Con 40 grabados al cobre a saber 1 grabado in-frontis por B. Picaut 9 mapas plegados 32 grabados plegados con cuadros genealógicos de las casas reales escudos y blasones órdenes de caballería y sus escudos y cuadros históricos ilustrados / también lleva impresas 4 síntesis de Historia Sagrada que van correlativamente numeradas con los grabados; En gran folio 465 x 304 cm.; Excelente impresión a 2 columnas sobre magnífico y grueso papel de hilo verjurado; Portada a dos tintas; Texto en francés; Enc. de la época en Plena Piel pasta antigua lomo con 7 nervios y cuajado en oro. La encuadernación tiene las esquinas rozadas y con pequeñas faltas de piel la cabeza y pie de los lomos también con pequeñas faltas. Particularmente al Tomo 3º le falta un trozo de piel al pie del lomo de 35 cm. al Tomo 5º le falta un trozo de piel en la cabeza del lomo de 13 cm. en disminución y una grieta de 10 cm. mas abajo. Todo esto ha sido reparado en lo posible quedando los libros con buen aspecto. El interior en muy buen estado salvo varias hojas en general muy pocas que tienen algunas motas de óxido y la lámina Nº 9 del Tomo 1º que tiene la parte superior del título cortada por error del encuadernador. Como ya hemos indicado anteriormente al Tomo 6º le falta la lámina Nº 30 que es un precioso gran mapa plegado y dividido en 2 partes hemisferio norte y hemisferio sur titulado "Carte tres curieuse de la Mer du Sud" pero va incluída en su lugar una reproducción facsímil a tamaño real del original bellamente iluminada e impresa sobre papel especial. H. A. Chatelain fue un pastor hugonote de origen parisino que vivió en París St. Martins Londres ca. 1710 La Haya ca. 1721 y Amsterdam ca 1728. Es reconocido como un gran cartógrafo alemán en especial por su gran obra el "Atlas Historique" que fue publicado en Amsterdam entre 1705 y 1720. Innovador para su tiempo por la gran calidad y exactitud cartográfica de sus mapas bellamente grabados al cobre que iban acompañados con gran cantidad de planchas igualmente grabadas al cobre conteniendo multitud de datos históricos genealógicos heráldicos nobiliarios etnográficos cosmográficos todos ellos bellamente ornamentados artísticamente con muchas ilustraciones. Cada lámina va numerada individualmente e indicando el número de tomo correspondiente. Los grabados y tablas de esta obra están realizados por los mejores autores del momento como: Dapper Chardin de Bruyn Le Hay y otros. Muchos mapas están basados en los trabajos del gran geógrafo Guillaume de L'Isle. Esta formidable obra fue presentada por la Familia Chatelain en forma de enciclopedia. Los textos van impresos a dos columnas por lo general. Al parecer algunos eruditos dudan de que Henri Abraham Chatelain fuese el único autor de esta magna obra - ya que en el libro solo figuran escritas como autor las iniciales "Mr. C."- y suponen que en su realización colaboró toda la familia en especial su hermano Zacarías Chatelain y su padre tambien Zacarías. GEOGRAFÃA GUÃAS Y ATLAS DEL EXTRANJERO Livre en français Chez Zacharie Chatelain, Chez L'Honore & Chatelain Libraires hardcover
1864Best.-Nr. 3503129/10/1864. Journalist George D. Prentice's son was a Confederate officer captured by Union forces who would later be charged with murder George D. Prentice was born in Connecticut on December 18 1802 and graduated from Brown University in 1823. He came to Kentucky in 1830 to write a campaign biography entitled The Biography of Henry Clay and remained in this state until his death on January 22 1870 in Louisville. Prentice became the editor of the Louisville Journal the newspaper of the Whig Party. The main focus of this paper was the promotion of Henry Clay’s agenda and his multiple presidential campaigns. Prentice brought the Journal from upstart newspaper to the most widely read newspaper in the western United States because of his wit and command of the English language. Upon the failure of the Whig Party Prentice supported the Know-Nothing Party. Prentice then supported John Bell and his Unionist platform in the 1860 election calling for the Southern states to stay in the Union. Following the repeal of neutrality in Kentucky the pro-Union Prentice wrote in the Louisville Journal on September 19 1861: “Well thank God we at last have weighed anchor and set out for the haven of safety and of honor. Now let all possible sail be spread and the noble ship of state be driven into the lines of her insolent foe with the whole might of the valor and devotion of her true men.” Prentice became part of Lincoln’s core group of advisors for Kentucky affairs during the war. But despite Prentice’s Unionist satisfaction that Kentucky was no longer neutral his two sons fought in the Confederate army one dying in 1862 and the other being captured in 1863. The son of Prentice Clarence J. Prentice was one of the most colorful Kentuckians in the Confederate Army. From 1863 to 1865 he commanded the 7th Confederate Cavalry Battalion. Based in southwestern Virginia the 7th was composed of mountaineers who resided along the Kentucky-Virginia border. The unit was difficult to discipline and was regarded as a ""black sheep"" battalion by other units in the department. While some members of the battalion accompanied Gen. John Hunt Morgan on his last Kentucky raid they were part of the dismounted brigade. Prentice and the balance of the 7th was left behind to guard Pound Gap. In his ""Kentucky Cavaliers in Dixie"" George Dallas Mosgrove left a lively pen portrait of the young officer. He described the 7th as wild and difficult to discipline but added that the men were afraid of Prentice who was a crack shot. Major Prentice was captured on March 31 1863. George Prentice wrote to Lincoln to enlist his help in securing a parole for his son. In his letter to Lincoln dated Journal Office Louisville Ky. May 6 1863 Prentice stated: “I wrote to you last week in regard to my son Major Clarence Prentice now a rebel prisoner at Camp Chase. He would ere this have been forwarded for exchange but Gen. Burnside at my solicitation consented to have him detained until I could have time to hear from you. I think there has been time but I have received nothing from you either by mail or telegraph. I know that the pressure of the affairs of state upon you is very great. Perhaps you did not read my letter at all. Major Prentice is the only child left to me. My household is very desolate. My son is tired of the war but unfortunately he thinks the south right. I ask you to direct his release upon his taking the non combatants oath and giving bond and security for its scrupulous observance. If you cannot do this as I painfully fear you cannot I earnestly appeal to you to parole him to stay outside of both the United States and the Southern Confederacy until after the rebellion. I should scarcely venture Mr. President to make this appeal to you but that I think I have served the Union cause faithfully devotedly and successfully. I have suffered very much and sacrificed very much in its behalf—more I am sure than any other man in Kentucky; and I am likely even at the best to suffer and sacrifice much hereafter. I think there is not a candid and intelligent Union man in this state who would hesitate to say to you that I have saved it to the Union politically. “And now dear sir pray grant me what I ask in behalf of my only son. His mother is half delirious and so am I. I am scarcely capable of performing my daily duties to the country but if my request were granted I feel I should be buoyant with new life. Please let me know your decision soon for if my son cannot be paroled upon either of the conditions I have mentioned I want him sent forward as soon as possible to City Point as he is extremely uncomfortable in his present situation.” Ten days later Lincoln issued an order written on the back of Prentice's letter instructing General Burnside to parole young Prentice ""to remain outside the limits of both the loyal and disloyal States or so-called 'Confederate States’…during the present rebellion and to abstain from in any wise aiding or abetting said rebellion."" He was released in May 1863. However Clarence Prentice immediately upon his release from Camp Chase violated his oath and re-entered the Confederate Army. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel. Only a few months after his parole he was back to robbing banks burning courthouses and spreading terror and destruction generally along the Kentucky-Virginia border. In the fall of 1863 after being released from Union custody Prentice shot and killed a hotel proprietor named White in Abingdon Va. during a ""personal difficulty."" His trial was set for November 8 1864 in Abingdon and his father wanted to attend and assist him at his trial. George Prentice again wrote Lincoln asking for his assistance. Lincoln complied with Prentice’s request. Autograph note signed Washington October 29 1864. “Allow George D. Prentice of the Louisville Journal to pass our lines go to Abingdon Va. and return.” Prentice also wrote to Secretary of State William Seward on October 25 1864. A letter of Captain R. H. Baptist exists October 22 1864 to Prentice offering to give evidence in the forthcoming trial of his son saying “a conversation occurred between White & myself that ought to be made known in the trial of your son by all means.” Prentice sought Seward’s help in lining up Baptist up as a witness for his son: “Capt Baptist who formerly served under my son…and is now a prisoner…at Johnson's Island writes to me some facts which would be of vast importance to my erring child in his approaching trial…and which Capt. B. says he would state on oath…if he could be paroled to the Southern Confederacy or exchanged…I think that the exchange of Capt Baptist would subserve the cause of truth humanity and justice.’’ After being shown Baptist's letter Lincoln arranged for his parole so that he could testify on behalf of Clarence Prentice. Thus did Lincoln intervene twice to aid his Kentucky advisor. Clarence Prentice was acquitted of the murder charge. He continued to serve in the Confederate Army until the war ended. <img class=""alignnone wp-image-25018 size-post-window"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20231204144051/Folder-site-11-1600x1327.jpg"" alt="""" width=""1600"" height=""1327"" /> unknown
1864Best.-Nr. 3503129/10/1864. Journalist George D. Prentice's son was a Confederate officer captured by Union forces who would later be charged with murder George D. Prentice was born in Connecticut on December 18 1802 and graduated from Brown University in 1823. He came to Kentucky in 1830 to write a campaign biography entitled The Biography of Henry Clay and remained in this state until his death on January 22 1870 in Louisville. Prentice became the editor of the Louisville Journal the newspaper of the Whig Party. The main focus of this paper was the promotion of Henry Clay’s agenda and his multiple presidential campaigns. Prentice brought the Journal from upstart newspaper to the most widely read newspaper in the western United States because of his wit and command of the English language. Upon the failure of the Whig Party Prentice supported the Know-Nothing Party. Prentice then supported John Bell and his Unionist platform in the 1860 election calling for the Southern states to stay in the Union. Following the repeal of neutrality in Kentucky the pro-Union Prentice wrote in the Louisville Journal on September 19 1861: “Well thank God we at last have weighed anchor and set out for the haven of safety and of honor. Now let all possible sail be spread and the noble ship of state be driven into the lines of her insolent foe with the whole might of the valor and devotion of her true men.” Prentice became part of Lincoln’s core group of advisors for Kentucky affairs during the war. But despite Prentice’s Unionist satisfaction that Kentucky was no longer neutral his two sons fought in the Confederate army one dying in 1862 and the other being captured in 1863. The son of Prentice Clarence J. Prentice was one of the most colorful Kentuckians in the Confederate Army. From 1863 to 1865 he commanded the 7th Confederate Cavalry Battalion. Based in southwestern Virginia the 7th was composed of mountaineers who resided along the Kentucky-Virginia border. The unit was difficult to discipline and was regarded as a ""black sheep"" battalion by other units in the department. While some members of the battalion accompanied Gen. John Hunt Morgan on his last Kentucky raid they were part of the dismounted brigade. Prentice and the balance of the 7th was left behind to guard Pound Gap. In his ""Kentucky Cavaliers in Dixie"" George Dallas Mosgrove left a lively pen portrait of the young officer. He described the 7th as wild and difficult to discipline but added that the men were afraid of Prentice who was a crack shot. Major Prentice was captured on March 31 1863. George Prentice wrote to Lincoln to enlist his help in securing a parole for his son. In his letter to Lincoln dated Journal Office Louisville Ky. May 6 1863 Prentice stated: “I wrote to you last week in regard to my son Major Clarence Prentice now a rebel prisoner at Camp Chase. He would ere this have been forwarded for exchange but Gen. Burnside at my solicitation consented to have him detained until I could have time to hear from you. I think there has been time but I have received nothing from you either by mail or telegraph. I know that the pressure of the affairs of state upon you is very great. Perhaps you did not read my letter at all. Major Prentice is the only child left to me. My household is very desolate. My son is tired of the war but unfortunately he thinks the south right. I ask you to direct his release upon his taking the non combatants oath and giving bond and security for its scrupulous observance. If you cannot do this as I painfully fear you cannot I earnestly appeal to you to parole him to stay outside of both the United States and the Southern Confederacy until after the rebellion. I should scarcely venture Mr. President to make this appeal to you but that I think I have served the Union cause faithfully devotedly and successfully. I have suffered very much and sacrificed very much in its behalf—more I am sure than any other man in Kentucky; and I am likely even at the best to suffer and sacrifice much hereafter. I think there is not a candid and intelligent Union man in this state who would hesitate to say to you that I have saved it to the Union politically. “And now dear sir pray grant me what I ask in behalf of my only son. His mother is half delirious and so am I. I am scarcely capable of performing my daily duties to the country but if my request were granted I feel I should be buoyant with new life. Please let me know your decision soon for if my son cannot be paroled upon either of the conditions I have mentioned I want him sent forward as soon as possible to City Point as he is extremely uncomfortable in his present situation.” Ten days later Lincoln issued an order written on the back of Prentice's letter instructing General Burnside to parole young Prentice ""to remain outside the limits of both the loyal and disloyal States or so-called 'Confederate States’…during the present rebellion and to abstain from in any wise aiding or abetting said rebellion."" He was released in May 1863. However Clarence Prentice immediately upon his release from Camp Chase violated his oath and re-entered the Confederate Army. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel. Only a few months after his parole he was back to robbing banks burning courthouses and spreading terror and destruction generally along the Kentucky-Virginia border. In the fall of 1863 after being released from Union custody Prentice shot and killed a hotel proprietor named White in Abingdon Va. during a ""personal difficulty."" His trial was set for November 8 1864 in Abingdon and his father wanted to attend and assist him at his trial. George Prentice again wrote Lincoln asking for his assistance. Lincoln complied with Prentice’s request. Autograph note signed Washington October 29 1864. “Allow George D. Prentice of the Louisville Journal to pass our lines go to Abingdon Va. and return.” Prentice also wrote to Secretary of State William Seward on October 25 1864. A letter of Captain R. H. Baptist exists October 22 1864 to Prentice offering to give evidence in the forthcoming trial of his son saying “a conversation occurred between White & myself that ought to be made known in the trial of your son by all means.” Prentice sought Seward’s help in lining up Baptist up as a witness for his son: “Capt Baptist who formerly served under my son…and is now a prisoner…at Johnson's Island writes to me some facts which would be of vast importance to my erring child in his approaching trial…and which Capt. B. says he would state on oath…if he could be paroled to the Southern Confederacy or exchanged…I think that the exchange of Capt Baptist would subserve the cause of truth humanity and justice.’’ After being shown Baptist's letter Lincoln arranged for his parole so that he could testify on behalf of Clarence Prentice. Thus did Lincoln intervene twice to aid his Kentucky advisor. Clarence Prentice was acquitted of the murder charge. He continued to serve in the Confederate Army until the war ended. <img class=""alignnone wp-image-25018 size-post-window"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20231204144051/Folder-site-11-1600x1327.jpg"" alt="""" width=""1600"" height=""1327"" /> unknown books
1861Best.-Nr. 3521508/08/1861. ""It is said that the young man named within was in the Great Bethel affair. His mother calls on me to ask a Lieutenancy for him"" We have never before a document on the market referencing Bethel by name or referring to the battle as great Part of a private collection assembled at Sesslers more than a half century ago The Civil War formally began with the bombardment of Fort Sumter on April 12–13 1861 but the first sustained clash between organized armies on land was the Battle of Big Bethel also called the Battle of Bethel Church fought on June 10 1861 near Hampton Virginia. Virginia's decision to secede from the Union had been ratified by popular vote on May 23 and Confederate colonel later major general John B. Magruder was sent down to the peninsula to deter any advance on the state capital Richmond by Union troops based at the well-defended post of Fort Monroe. Confederate forces under Magruder defeated a probing Union attack led by John Adams Dix and field commander Theodore Winthrop who was killed in the assault. The Union objective was to push back Confederate outposts guarding the Yorktown Road but poor coordination and a nighttime friendly-fire incident ruined surprise. When Union troops advanced at dawn they were repulsed by well-positioned Southern artillery and infantry around Big Bethel Church. The battle ended in a Confederate victory providing an early morale boost to the South while exposing the inexperience and disorganization of Union forces in the war’s opening weeks. It confirmed that the conflict would not be short or bloodless. Abraham Lincoln was distressed by the Union defeat at Big Bethel. The battle underscored for him the Union's lack of military preparedness and the challenges in finding capable commanders reinforcing his determination to avoid future losses. During his presidency Lincoln would regularly meet with members of the public who would wait to see him in the foyer of his office in the White House. This included soldiers and their family members. Autograph letter signed Frank J. White as Captain of Company A 10th Regiment Fortress Monroe July 27 1861 seemingly given to the soldier himself or his sent to his family. ""Mr. Charles. J. Seymour has been a member of my company for three months and has gained my highest esteem for the excellent manner in which he has discharged his duties. He is well qualified to hold a much higher position than his present one."" Autograph document signed August 8 1861 on a detached leaf no recipient but likely Secretary of War Simon Cameron. ""It is said that the young man named within was in the Great Bethel affair. His mother calls on me to ask a Lieutenancy for him; and I ask a respectful consideration of his case."" Seymour received the promotion Lincoln requested becoming a lieutenant just weeks later on August 27 1861. He served as Aide-de-Camp on the staff of Gen. Daniel E. Sickles and was later promoted to major. He also assisted in recruiting efforts in New York City. This was acquired from Mabel Zahn at Sesslers in the 1970s. <img class=""alignnone wp-image-25018 size-post-window"" src=""https://cdn.raabcollection.com/wp-content/uploads/20231204144051/Folder-site-11-1600x1327.jpg"" alt="""" width=""1600"" height=""1327"" /> unknown
