ID 1236393
Lot 162 | An endorsement of General Halleck's aide-de-camp
Estimate value
$ 5 000 – 8 000
One page, 83 x 150mm. (lightly discolored at lower left, inscription "to the President" cross-written at center, just touching a few characters).
Lincoln recommends the appointment of General Henry Halleck's aide-de-camp, Lewis B. Parsons Jr: "I personally know Mr. Parsons to be a good man, and if it be known that Gen. Halleck wishes his appointment, let it be made". Before the Civil War, Lewis B. Parsons Jr. (1818-1907) served as the president and director for the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad from 1857 to 1860, where he likely became acquainted personally with Lincoln and began a close friendship with George McClellan - the railroad's then-Vice-President. Throughout the war years, Parsons would direct river and rail transport of troops in Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, and Ohio at differing points of the war, and served as aide-de-camp under at least four different generals. Due to his record and relationship with Lincoln, the President wrote to the Secretary of War on March 9, 1865: "I have long thought that Col. Lewis B. Parsons ought to be promoted; and this impression has been deepened by his great success in the recent matter of transporting troops from the West to the East. Is there any legal obstacle in the way? If not, let the promotion be made at once." After Lincoln's assassination the following month, President Johnson would appoint Parsons Brevet Brigadier General of Volunteers in May 11, 1865. (See Pratt, Harry E. “Lewis B. Parsons: Mover of Armies and Railroad Builder.” Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society (1908-1984) 44, no. 4 (1951): 349–54.)
Artist: | Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865) |
---|---|
Place of origin: | USA |
Auction house category: | Letters, documents and manuscripts |
Artist: | Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865) |
---|---|
Place of origin: | USA |
Auction house category: | Letters, documents and manuscripts |
Address of auction |
CHRISTIE'S 8 King Street, St. James's SW1Y 6QT London United Kingdom | |
---|---|---|
Preview |
| |
Phone | +44 (0)20 7839 9060 | |
Buyer Premium | see on Website | |
Conditions of purchase | Conditions of purchase |
More from Creator
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.