 |
Civil War Discharge Documents
"The President's Thanks and Certificate of Honorable Service", issued during the American Civil War for soldiers known as the "Hundred Days' Men".
Document Details
Official Title: The President's Thanks and Certificate of Honorable Service.
Purpose: It served as an official acknowledgment of patriotic service for volunteers from Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin who volunteered for a 100-day term of service under General Sherman in 1864.
Signatures: The document bears the printed, facsimile (not hand-signed) signatures of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States and Edwin M. Stanton as Secretary of War.
Date: The printed date on the form is December 15, 1864.
Historical Context: These certificates are authentic pieces of Civil War history and are considered collectible items. The "Hundred Days' Men" freed up experienced Union soldiers for combat duty in the Confederacy while they performed guard or garrison duties in Northern states.
Value and Collectibility
The value of such a certificate depends heavily on its condition, the specific soldier it was issued to, and the manuscript portions being genuinely handwritten.
Typical Auction Value: Similar Civil War certificates with printed Lincoln and Stanton signatures have sold at auction for prices generally ranging from a few hundred to over seven hundred dollars, depending on specifics.
Authenticity: The document in the image appears to be an original 1864 government-issued document, not a modern reproduction.
Condition: The visible condition, including the signs of age and wear, is typical for an authentic historical document of this era. |
|
|
