Description:

ABRAHAM LINCOLN
(1809-1865) Sixteenth President of the United States who led the Union through the Civil War and emancipated the slaves, assassinated. Very fine content A.L.S. "A. Lincoln as President-elect, 1p. 8vo., Springfield, Jan. 24, 1861 to ULYSSES DOUBLEDAY (1824-1893), the brother of Union Brigadier Gen. Abner Doubleday. Abner Doubleday was stationed at Fort Sumter in early 1861, where he was second in command of the garrison. During the fall of 1860, while stationed at Fort Moultrie and subsequently at Sumter, Doubleday wrote numerous letters to his brother Ulysses in New York informing him of the situation there, his suspicions of President Buchanan's complicity in assigning secessionist officers to the posts, and events in and around Charleston Harbor as the secession crisis grew. Following Lincoln's election in November 1860, Ulysses forwarded these letters on to John G. Nicholay at Springfield, who in turn forwarded them on to Lincoln. Here, Lincoln writes, in full: "Yours of the 15th inclosing that which I now return was duly received, and for which I thank you. I have neglected for a few days to return the inclosed [sic]. Yours truly, A. Lincoln" Not in Basler. We do not know the exact nature of what had been enclosed with Lincoln's letter as Basler's, Collected Works does not record any correspondence with either Ulysses or Abner Doubleday before 1862. However, we do know that when Lincoln learned of a rumor that James Buchanan had instructed Major Anderson to surrender the fort if attacked, Lincoln exclaimed, "If that is true they ought to hang him!" and wrote confidentially to General Scott that he: "...wished him to be prepared immediately after my inauguration to make arrangements at once to hold the forts, or, if they had been taken, to take them back again." (Abraham Lincoln Association, Nicholay Memo, Ms.) A superb letter worthy of further research. Ulysses, a successful banker, volunteered for service in the army and later commanded the 45th Colored Troops. Moderate toning and soiling, marginal chips repaired with tissue, else very good condition. Matted with a portrait of Lincoln.

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May 13, 2009 10:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

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