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James A. Garfield

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:1,000.00 - 1,500.00 USD
James A. Garfield

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Auction Date:2016 Mar 09 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, 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
Outstanding AQS on an off-white 5 x 6.5 sheet, signed “J. A. Garfield.” Eloquent quote from his speech on the bravery of George Henry Thomas at the Battle of Chickamauga. In full: “While men shall read the history of battles, they will never fail to study and admire the work of Thomas during that afternoon. With but 25,000 men formed in a semicircle of which he was the center and soul, he successfully resisted, for more than five hours, the repeated assaults of an army of 65,000 men flushed with victory and bent on his annihilation. He was indeed the ‘Rock of Chicamauga’ against which the wild waves of a battle dashed in vain.” Affixed at the corners to a slightly larger sheet. In very good to fine condition, with toning to edges. Accompanied by an unsigned engraved portrait of Thomas.

This passage came from an address delivered before the Society of the Army of the Cumberland as a eulogy for General George Henry Thomas, who passed away on March 28, 1870. As a field officer during the battle, Garfield had reported to Army of the Cumberland commander William Rosecrans that Thomas was ‘standing like a rock.’ The nickname stayed Thomas for the rest of his years. More than an exquisite piece related to the Civil War, this quote reveals Garfield’s abilities as an orator—a quality that helped him win the presidency.