Autographs
President Abraham Lincoln Handwritten Autograph Note Signed 28 Days Prior to His Assassination!

Amnesty Orders to Free Confederate POWs: "Let these men take the oath of Dec. 8, 1863 & be discharged. - A. Lincoln - March 18, 1865."
ABRAHAM LINCOLN (1809 - April 15, 1865). 16th President of the United States, serving throughout the American Civil War, until his Assassination at Ford's Theater by John Wilkes Booth on April 15th 1865.
March 18,1865-Dated Civil War Period, Autograph Note Signed, "A. Lincoln", measuring 3.5" x 2", Very Fine. President Abraham Lincoln grants the Appeal for Amnesty from a group of Confederate soldier's imprisoned at Camp Morton, Indiana and elsewhere. A historic, Handwritten Endorsement just Twenty-Eight Days prior to his Assassination by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theater in Washington, DC, President Lincoln writes in full: "Let these men take the oath of Dec. 8, 1863 & be discharged. - (Signed) A. Lincoln - March 18, 1865". There is some expected minor even tone, with contemporary written text and prior mount traces on reverse top corners of the wove period paper. The statement is bold and sharp, easily readable and has a choice bold "A. Lincoln" signature, measuring about 1.25" long such that it stands out in its eye appeal.



When he signed this order, Abraham Lincoln had less than a month to live. On that very day, March 17, 1865 John Wilkes Booth's scheme to kidnap Lincoln as he returned from a play at Campbell Hospital on the outskirts of Washington failed, when Lincoln suddenly changed his plans. The partial writing on the verso, including "Morton" gives insight into who the applicants were, as it indicates that the applications came from (Camp) Morton, the largest prison camp in Indiana, where large numbers of Confederates were held during the Civil War. Lincoln was assassinated by Booth on April 14 at Ford's Theater. Anything signed by President Lincoln during his second term, which lasted only six weeks, is uncommon. This being an impressive example, and its date, being so close to Lincoln's Assassination, making it even more historically rare and desirable. Includes a photocopy of Letter of Authenticity signed by Steve Grad on behalf of the "PSA/DNA" Authentication Team.
On December 8, 1863, President Lincoln offered his conciliatory plan for reunification of the United States with his Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction. The proclamation addressed three main areas:



1. It provided for a full pardon for, and restoration of property to, all engaged in the rebellion with the exception of the highest Confederate officials and military leaders, provided they take the oath of allegiance to the United States;



2. It allowed for a new state government to be formed when 10% of eligible voters had taken an oath of allegiance to the United States; and ...



3. The Southern states admitted in this fashion were encouraged to enact plans to deal with the freed slaves so long as their freedom was not compromised. Lincoln's plan was charitable, considering the costliness of the war in both human and financial terms, and one easy for most Southerners to accept.



Requests for Amnesty came from Confederate Prisoners of War held in Northern prisons, where many considered the war lost and were anxious to take the "Oath of Allegiance." These men could even return to their homes if they were in Union-controlled areas. Other requests came from Confederate sympathizers who were imprisoned, or from those who had had property confiscated.



Many applicants simply wanted to renew their U.S. Citizenship to regain the right to vote and hold office. President Lincoln's attitude towards the Amnesty applications that came to his desk was a kindly one, never turning down anyone who had not committed serious crimes or displayed acts of cruelty.



Lincoln's Amnesty orders to free Confederate POWs: "Let these men take the oath of Dec. 8, 1863 & be discharged. A. Lincoln, March 17, 1865."