Description
Exceedingly desirable and boldly penned Civil War-dated autograph endorsement as president, signed “A. Lincoln,” penned on the reverse of an LS addressed to President Abraham Lincoln by Major General George B. McClellan, signed “Geo. B. McClellan,” dated August 22, 1861.
McClellan’s letter, in part: “I have the honor respectfully to request that, under the authority of the recent Act of Congress providing for additional Aids-de-camp, to a Major General commanding an army in the field, Richard B. Irwin of the District of Columbia may be appointed an Aid-de-camp to myself with the rank of captain.” Lincoln’s endorsement, in full: “Let the Appointment within requested be made. A. Lincoln. Aug. 23, 1861.” Countersigned below by Secretary of War Simon Cameron. In very good to fine condition, with splitting to the folds and almost complete separation to the hinge.
Richard B. Irwin was the great-great-grandson of Benjamin Franklin and served as aide-de-camp to General George B. McClellan and later to General Nathaniel Banks through most of the Civil War. A Wyoming cattle rancher later in life, he authored the 1892 “History of the Nineteenth Army Corps,” and three other books on the Civil War. Most interesting here is that he wrote the book Battles & Leaders of the Civil War: The Removal of McClellan.
