War-dated partly-printed DS as president, one page, 15.25 x 19, July 1, 1864. President Lincoln appoints Thomas H. Neill a “Major in the Eleventh regiment of Infantry in the service of the United States.” Signed at the conclusion by Lincoln, and countersigned by Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. Framed to an overall size of 17.25 x 21. Intersecting folds, with a horizontal fold passing through a few portions of signature, some light toning, a pencil notation to lower left, and a trivial bit of paper loss to lower right corner, otherwise fine condition. The blue seal is crisp and bright, with a horizontal fold through the center. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
In April of 1863, Lincoln appointed Neill Brigadier General of Volunteers, at which time he joined the army’s reserve in the Battle of Gettysburg. He commanded the 3d Brigade, Second Division, VI Corps alongside Henry Slocum's XII Corps on Wolf Hill at the extreme right of the Union lines. On the morning of July 3, the brigade took part in the assault on Edward Johnson's division of Richard Ewell's corps to retake the rifle pits lost the evening before. He led John Baillie McIntosh's cavalry brigade, his own brigade and some artillery in the pursuit of the Confederate army toward Fairfield Gap beginning on July 5, 1863. Following Gettysburg, Neill saw little action but remained active in the military.
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