The 30 Minute Rule begins April 15 at 7:00 PM EDT. An Initial Bid Must Be Placed By April 15 at 6:00 PM EDT To Participate After 6:00 PM EDT
Civil War-dated ALS as an Ohio congressman, signed “J. A. Garfield,” one page both sides, 7.75 x 9.75, February 3, 1865. Addressed from Washington, a handwritten letter to a general, ostensibly Major General Irvin McDowell, in full: “Your very kind favor of Dec., enclosing two of your speeches came duly to hand, for which accept my thanks. I have read both the speeches with great interest I assure you. No man in America was better qualified to discuss the merits of the Democratic nominee for President than yourself, and you do it in that clear and masterly style which always characterized you and which struck me so forcibly in the first production of your pen I ever saw. I am thoroughly glad that you have broken over your old army rule of letting politics alone. The rule did well enough till we were engaged in a war, more completely political in its causes, character and…than any other on record, and which no generalship is adequate to unless it be well mingled with a wise and comprehensive statesmanship.
I wish you were here now to give me, and all of us the benefit of your thought, when the country is going crazy on the question of peace and reconstruction. Our odd President is doing that odd thing – gone to Fortress Monroe to meet Stephens, Hunter and Campbell, whom both armies cheered as they came through. I have some hope of visiting California in the spring on a little official business, and among the chief pleasures of the possible visit be that of seeing you. I shall be glad to hear from you if the spirit moves you. Remember me kindly to Mrs. McDowell.” In fine condition, with two small fold repairs.
This fascinating letter was written on the day of the Hampton Roads Peace Conference, and captures Garfield’s immediate reaction to one of the Civil War’s final diplomatic efforts. Referring to Lincoln’s trip, Garfield writes, “Our odd President is doing that odd thing – gone to Fortress Monroe to meet Stephens, Hunter and Campbell.” On February 3, 1865, Lincoln and Secretary of State William H. Seward met aboard the steamer River Queen at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, with three Confederate commissioners — Confederate Vice President Alexander H. Stephens, Assistant Secretary of War John A. Campbell, and Senator Robert M. T. Hunter — to explore the possibility of ending the war. With Confederate defeat looming, Southern leaders hoped to secure negotiated terms, but Lincoln held firmly to reunion and the abolition of slavery. The meeting ended without agreement, and the war continued until Lee’s surrender at Appomattox two months later. Lincoln was assassinated just ten weeks after this conference on April 15, 1865.
This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for
$100.00
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.
