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1576

Abraham Lincoln

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:4,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD
Abraham Lincoln

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Auction Date:2013 May 15 @ 18:00 (UTC-05:00 : EST/CDT)
Location:5 Rt 101A Suite 5, Amherst, New Hampshire, 03031, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
A unique group of historic documents regarding the transport of Lincoln’s papers, sent with Lieutenant Gilbert S. Carpenter of the 18th US Infantry under armed guard to the National Bank in Bloomington, Illinois. Papers include: (1) an LS, signed “Jas A. Hardie, Bvt Brig Genl Inspr Genl USA,” one page both sides, 7.75 x 9.5, War Department letterhead, April 26, 1865, to Carpenter, in part: “The Sec’y of War directs that you proceed to Bloomington, Illinois in charge of three boxes of valuable documents belonging to the late President Lincoln and deliver same into the custody of the National Bank at that place…the receipts of the Cashier being your voucher…the boxes will be forwarded this evening and you will accompany them by Adams Express Co. Four enlisted men will accompany you and you are directed to keep two of these men constantly on guard over the boxes...during their transit and until their final delivery. Having executed these instructions you will at once return…and report performance of the duty assigned to you.”

(2) ALS, signed “C. C. Dunn, Agt.,” one page, both sides, 8 x 9.75, Adams Express Company letterhead, April 26, 1865. Letter reads, in part: “The bearer, Lieut. Carpenter and guard are under instructions from the Sec’y of War to accompany certain boxes belonging to our late president to their designation at Bloomington…the [railroad] car furnished here will be retained in this service…consistent with arrangements [with] connecting Railroads. When a transfer becomes necessary…see that at least equal facilities are furnished and every attention given to the lieutenant in furtherance of his sad mission. Telegraph in advance…providing against delays or obstruction…see that an Express messenger accompanies the train with the lieutenant…should it become necessary to enter the territory of the American Express Co. I request the same attention as though the service were to be performed by this company. Any expense will be paid by this company. The known patriotism of all Express men is invoked to see that the service is promptly performed.”

(3) A handwritten receipt from the National bank of Bloomington, one page, 8 x 10, April 29, 1865, issued to Lieutenant Carpenter acknowledging receipt from him of “three boxes of contents to us, unmarked.”

(4) ALS, signed “G. S. Carpenter, 1st Lieut. 18th U. S. Infantry,” two lightly-lined pages on two adjoining sheets, War Department letterhead, May 4, 1865. Letter to General Hardie with details of the trip and delivery while “in charge of three boxes of valuable papers belonging to the late President Lincoln…having seen them safely stored in the vault I telegraphed you of their delivery.” He goes on to request Hardie to commend the attention given to him by the employees of the express companies “in providing against any contingencies that could place at hazard the safe delivery of the property.”

(5) The original leather fold-up, russet colored three section wallet (8 x 14 overall with fastening strap) in which Carpenter kept the original orders and receipts for Lincoln‘s papers, with a neatly penned signature inside “G. S. Carpenter/ 18th U. S. Infantry,” with his name similarly written on the outside.

(6) Partly-printed vellum DS, bearing a stamped signature of Andrew Johnson and signed by Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, one page, 10 x 14, September 10, 1866. Appointment of Carpenter as a “Captain…for Gallant and Meritorious Service at the Battle of Murfreesboro, Tenn.”

(7) Partly-printed vellum DS, one page, 14.75 x 9.25, February 10, 1862. Carpenter’s earlier appointment as a sergeant in 18th US Infantry, signed by the regiment’s commanding officer.

(8) Partly-printed DS, one page, 17 x 12, no date. Carpenter’s Society of the Army of the Cumberland membership to Carpenter, signed by the society’s president.

(9) Two piece, large brass G. A. R. anniversary medal for ”Lafayette Post 140/ Dept. of NY” engraved with Carpenter’s name.

In overall very good condition.

Following the assassination of President Lincoln, Robert Todd Lincoln had his father’s valuable documents and personal items returned to the family’s care, brought to the National Bank in Bloomington, Illinois for safekeeping. The papers were first organized under the direction of Judge David Davis, Abraham Lincoln's longtime associate there. Lincoln's presidential secretaries John Nicolay and John Hay later used these papers in the research and writing of their ten-volume biography, Abraham Lincoln: A History, published in 1890.
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