July 2014 Auction Ends Thursday, July 31st, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/31/2014
Abraham Lincoln autograph letter signed and autograph note signed as President upon the same sheet. Lincoln writes, in full, ''Washington, October 9, 1862 / Quarter-Master General [Montgomery C. Meigs] / My Dear Sir: The bearer of this, Elbridge Meconkey, was on Gen. Mc.Call's staff, and was wounded at Gaine's Mill. He now wishes to be a Quarter-Master; and I would like to appoint him, if another Q.M. is now needed. Please answer. Yours truly A. Lincoln''. The addressee responds on the following page, ''Respectfully returned to the President of the United States. This Department has now calls for details of Quarter-Masters of Volunteers which it cannot supply, & the Quarter master General will gladly avail of the services of any efficient officer who may be appointed & directed to report to him for duty. MC Meigs / QMG / QM Generals Office. Oct. 10th 1862.'' Lincoln replies, ''Let Elbridge Meconkey be appointed at once. A. Lincoln. Oct. 10, 1862''. This recommendation is listed as missing from the Quartermaster General's files in the National Archives (DNA WR RG 92, P 100), according to ''The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln'' by Roy P. Basler, University Press: New Brunswick, N.J., 1953, Volume V, page 454. Meconkey, a Yale alumnus and Harvard Law grad, served in the 44th Regiment Cavalry, Pennsylvania Volunteers. No record exists of his ever holding the position of Quarter-Master, and an obituary reports his death by suicide in 1887. Letter runs 4pp. on a single sheet of card-style Executive Mansion stationery. Near fine given age. An exceedingly rare doubly signed presidential Lincoln letter.
Extraordinarily Rare Abraham Lincoln Autograph Letter Signed & Autograph Noted Signed as President Upon The Same Sheet -- ''...bearer...was wounded at Gaine's Mill...''
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