War-dated partly printed DS as president, one page, 8 x 10, November 5, 1862. A document directing the secretary of state to affix the Great Seal of the United States to a warrant for the pardon of James J. Palmer. On the same day, according to the standard reference Lincoln Day by Day (Dayton: Morningside, 1991), the exasperated president gave the order to General-in-Chief Henry W. Halleck to remove the increasingly ineffective General George McClellan from command of the Army of the Potomac. Months earlier, Lincoln had already replaced McClellan as General-in-Chief after early setbacks in the Peninsula Campaign. After McClellan failed to aggressively pursue Lee’s forces at the disastrous Battle of Antietam on September 17, Lincoln’s misgivings regarding McClellan’s abilities in the field came to a head once again. The order removing McClellan from command of the Army of the Potomac was delivered on November 7, and on November 9, he was officially replaced by Ambrose Burnside. Though McClellan continued to serve in the Army, he and Lincoln became staunch political opponents, and McClellan ran against Lincoln, unsuccessfully, as the 1864 Democratic presidential candidate. In very good condition overall, with intersecting folds (touching signature; small hole near but not touching “A”; tiny tear just touching first “n” of last name, with early reinforcement to reverse), mild soiling and wrinkling, three small file holes, small marginal chips, a piece of old masking tape to top margin, and toning from previous framing. The signature is clear and distinct. Auction LOA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
