Civil War-dated partly-printed DS as president, signed “Abraham Lincoln,” one page, 7.75 x 9.75, September 4, 1863. Draft order for the Union Army issued by President Lincoln from the Executive Mansion, sent to the War Department. In part: "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 of Pennsylvania, 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 one thousand seven hundred and ninety (1790) as the first proportional part of the quota of troops to be furnished by the 13th District of the State of Pennsylvania under this, the first call made by me on the State." Boldly signed at the conclusion by President Lincoln. In fine condition, with an area of creasing to the center of the top edge.
In 1863, Lincoln established a military draft to replenish the Union Army’s depleted ranks, with this offered draft requisition targeting men in Pennsylvania—specifically, a request for 1,790 troops from Pennsylvania's 13th district as part of “the first call made by me on the State of Pennsylvania, under the Act approved March 3, 1863, entitled 'An Act for Enrolling and Calling out the National Force.” The concept of conscription was a controversial one in the war-torn Union, with the act requiring states to draft men to serve in the armed forces if individual states did not meet their enlistment quotas through volunteers. The federal government oversaw the draft and created provost marshals to enforce it; all white men between the ages of 20 and 45 were eligible. The Conscription Act permitted drafted men to either pay a $300 fee or hire a substitute to escape service if they were drafted. The act, created without due consideration of its consequences, led to civil disturbance in some cities, most notably New York City where rioters battled police for three days, the violence resulting in many deaths. A controversial but necessary wartime document, perfectly signed in full and remaining in excellent condition.
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