Description:

JAMES K. POLK
(1795 - 1849) Eleventh President of the United States who led the country during the Mexican-American War, and secured the territories of Oregon and Washington. PROMOTION OF FUTURE UNION GEN. CHRISTOPHER C. AUGUR Important partly-printed D.S. "James K. Polk" as President, 1p. folio parchment, Washington, Feb. 7, 1848, just five days after the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican-American War but while Mexican guerilla raids were still ongoing. Polk appoints future Union major general CHRISTOPHER C. AUGUR (1821-1898) to the rank of: "First Lieutenant in the Fourth Regiment of Infantry," effective from February 16, 1847. The document bears a fine, bold signature at lower-right. It is additionally co-signed by Secretary of War WILLIAM L. MARCY (1786-1857). In very fine condition. SOLD WITH: CHRISTOPHER C. AUGUR A.L.S. as first Lieutenant, 1p. oblong 8vo., Matamoros, June 18, 1847 to DARIUS N. COUCH advising that various documents had been sent to Augur lacking Couch''s required signature and returning them for completion. Also fine. Two pieces. Like Augur, Ulysses S. Grant was also a lieutenant in the 4th Infantry, which fought with great distinction in the war. At one point, the regiment''s band dropped their instruments and turned the enemy''s artillery on them, sending them to flight. Led by Zachary Taylor, the 4th was taken by sea to Vera Cruz where the city was taken after a lengthy siege. Augur was appointed Commandant of Cadets at West Point, then brigadier and major general, commanding at Fredericksburg and Cedar Mountain (severely wounded), and the Army of the Gulf with distinction during the siege of Port Hudson. On April 14, 1865 Augur was one of the Army officers who were present at the Petersen House where the mortally wounded President Lincoln was taken. He was also instrumental in mobilizing troops to pursue and eventually capture Booth and his co-conspirators, including the detachment that tracked down and killed Booth.

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December 20, 2017 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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