Abraham Lincoln, (Morgan’s Raider’s Pardon) Autograph Endorsement Signed, with Gardner Carte

Description

Abraham Lincoln writes and signs an Endorsement, and with usual oath, “Let these men take the oath of Dec. 8. 1863 & be discharged.” Lincoln pardons seven Confederates, six of them members of the famed 7th Cavalry that followed John Hunt Morgan on his infamous 1863 raid into Indiana and Ohio.  

As the war wound down from December 1864 to April 1865, Lincoln began pardoning innumerable imprisoned Confederate soldiers, but only upon taking the requisite Oath. Herein, E. J. Broaddus, a deputy Provost Marshall of the 8^th Kentucky Congressional District writes on a piece of Executive Mansion stationery “To President U.S.A.” recommending “the release of the foregoing prisoners upon taking the necessary oath.”

Four of the pardon recipients were being kept at Camp Douglas in Chicago and one at Camp Morton in Indiana.  The seventh, Sidney Broaddus, being held at Ft. Delaware, was captured at the Battle of Buffington Island, Ohio, July 19, 1863, and was certainly a relative of the writer.  

Most likely E. J. Broaddus was standing before Lincoln, hoping to gain the pardons.  The President probably shoved a sheet of official paper to him, asking that he write down his request, with attendant names, whereabouts, and units.

Lincoln, Abraham. Autograph Endorsement, Signed “A. Lincoln” and Dated.  Executive Mansion, Washington: 10 January 1865.  Octavo; 2p + endorsement written on blank page 4.  Not in Basler.  W/ a back-marked Alex Gardner CDV of Lincoln taken only 26 days later!