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Auction: 316 - The Collector's Series
Lot: 1197

Lincoln, Abraham - Sixteenth President of the United States (1809-65, served from 1861); guided the nation through the Civil War until his assassination by actor John Wilkes Booth; initially a moderate on the issue of slavery, the war compelled him to fight successfully for emancipation. Partly engraved Document Signed "Abraham Lincoln" as President, 1 page, large folio, on vellum, Washington, July 1, 1864. He names Joseph D Carney a captain in the 7th US Infantry Regiment. Countersigned by Secretary of War "Edwin M Stanton." Folds, usual toning and soiling, crack to paper War Department seal, overall in VG condition. At the time of this order, Lincoln´s presidency appeared to be at a low ebb. The watershed victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg were a year old, yet the end of the war was nowhere in sight, leading many to believe re-election was impossible. Within months, the capture of Atlanta would make it clear that the triumph of the Union was only a matter of time, securing Lincoln´s second term. We do not find Carney among lists of West Point graduates; no doubt he was one of many non-commissioned officers who were advanced to feed the army´s hunger for experienced leaders.

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