Abraham Lincoln Handwritten & Signed Presidential Discharge Order. Jan. 24, 1865

An extraordinary handwritten document from President Abraham Lincoln, dated January 24, 1865, during the final months of the American Civil War and less than three months before his assassination. Written entirely in Lincoln's own hand, this remarkable piece of American history offers a rare glimpse into the President's personal involvement in matters of clemency and reconciliation as the nation approached the conclusion of its bloodiest conflict.

Measuring approximately 3.25" x 2.25", the document contains a direct order from Lincoln authorizing the discharge of several men, believed to have been Confederate prisoners of war, upon their taking the oath of allegiance established by his December 8, 1863 Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction. Written on the reverse of what appears to have been a petition requesting their release, Lincoln's instructions read in full:

"Let these men take the oath of Dec. 8, 1863 & be discharged. / A. Lincoln / Jan. 24, 1865."

The reverse retains fragments of the original petition, including partial signatures attributed to Samuel Seyford, George Young, and James Young. The document exhibits minor smudging and flattened folds consistent with its age, while Lincoln's handwritten directive and signature remain prominently preserved.

A Nation on the Brink of Reunification

By January 1865, the American Civil War had entered its final and decisive chapter. General William T. Sherman had completed his devastating March to the Sea, capturing Savannah, Georgia, in December 1864. Union forces had also secured Fort Fisher on January 15, effectively closing the Confederacy's last major Atlantic supply port at Wilmington, North Carolina. Meanwhile, General Ulysses S. Grant continued his relentless campaign against Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia around Petersburg and Richmond.

Against this backdrop, Lincoln was already looking beyond military victory toward the difficult task of restoring a fractured nation. His December 8, 1863 Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction offered pardons to qualifying former Confederates willing to swear allegiance to the United States and accept the emancipation of enslaved people. This handwritten discharge order represents a tangible example of that policy being put into practice, demonstrating Lincoln's willingness to extend clemency even before the war had officially ended.

The historical timing of this document is particularly poignant. Just weeks later, on March 4, 1865, Lincoln would deliver his legendary Second Inaugural Address, calling for national healing with the immortal words, "With malice toward none; with charity for all." His vision of reconciliation would be tragically cut short when he was assassinated on April 14, 1865, only five days after General Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House.

An Exceptional Piece of Presidential History

Unlike more commonly encountered presidential signatures or formal government appointments, this document is especially compelling because it contains an actual presidential directive written entirely in Abraham Lincoln's hand. Its contents reflect not merely his authority as Commander-in-Chief, but his personal approach to forgiveness, loyalty, and the preservation of the Union during one of the most consequential periods in American history.

Dated just 80 days before his assassination, this remarkable artifact connects its owner directly to the final chapter of Lincoln's presidency and the closing days of the Civil War. It is an exceptional opportunity to acquire an intimate and historically significant example of presidential handwriting from one of America's most revered leaders.