Partly-printed war-dated DS as president, one page, 7.75 x 10, September 5, 1863. Lincoln calls out Ohio men for military service. In full, “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 Ohio, 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 said States, and having considered and allowed for the number already furnished as aforesaid, and the time of their service aforesaid, do hereby assign Seven Hundred and Seventy-four as the first proportional part of the quota of troops to be furnished by the Ninth District of the State of Ohio under this, the first call made by me on the State of Ohio, under the act approved March 3, 1863, entitled ‘An Act for Enrolling and calling out the National Forces, and for other purposes,’ and in pursuance of the act aforesaid, I order that a draft be made in the said Ninth District of the State of Ohio, for the number of men herein assigned to said District, and fifty percent in addition.” In fine condition, with a trivial chip to bottom edge, a vertical diagonal crease to left side, some other light creasing and wrinkling, none affecting the impressive signature.
In 1863, Lincoln established a military draft to replenish the Union Army’s depleted ranks, with this offered draft requisition targeting men in the Buckeye State—specifically, a request for at least 774 troops from Ohio’s 9th district as part of “the first call made by me on the State of Ohio.” 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 pay a $300 fee or hire a substitute to escape service if they were drafted. Although the measure led to civil disturbance in some cities and states, most notably New York City where 1,155 were reportedly killed, more than 310,000 Ohioans served in the Northern army for varying lengths of time, exceeding the government’s quota by 4,332 soldiers. A controversial but necessary war-time exercise signed by Lincoln during the bloody conflict. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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