Civil War–dated partly-printed vellum DS as president, one page, 15 x 19.75, July 17, 1862. President Lincoln appoints Henry G. Litchfield as “Second Lieutenant in the Eighteenth regiment of Infantry, in the service of the United States.” Beautifully signed at the conclusion by Lincoln and countersigned by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. Blue War Department seal affixed to upper left remains fully intact, with the lower edge creased and slightly detached from document. Framed in a thick shadowbox to an overall size of 17 x 22.75. Intersecting folds, some unobtrusive dampstaining to edges, and a tiny speck of paper loss affecting part of the date, otherwise fine condition; Lincoln’s signature is extremely clean and unaffected by any flaws. Litchfield went on to play a key role in the Battle of Bentonville, which lasted from March 19–21, 1865, and was the last full-scale action of the Civil War in which a Confederate army was able to mount a tactical offensive; it was also the very last battle between the armies of William T. Sherman and Joseph E. Johnston. Scouting ahead on the first day of battle, Litchfield informed commander Henry W. Slocum that he ‘found something more than Dibrell's [Confederate] cavalry—I find infantry intrenched along our whole front, and enough of them to give us all the amusement we shall want for the rest of the day.’ This intelligence caused Slocum to adopt a defensive plan which played a pivotal role in protecting Morris Farm from Confederate attacks. An exquisite appointment from early in the war for a soldier who played a notable role in its end. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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