• President Abraham Lincoln Signed Civil War Appointment, Gettysburg. Grad Auth.
  • President Abraham Lincoln Signed Civil War Appointment, Gettysburg. Grad Auth.0
  • President Abraham Lincoln Signed Civil War Appointment, Gettysburg. Grad Auth.1
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President Abraham Lincoln Signed Civil War Appointment, Gettysburg. Grad Auth.

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Coast Guard Appointment Signed on the First Day of Gettysburg!

Offered here is an exceptional Civil War commission signed by President Abraham Lincoln on July 1, 1863, the opening day of the Battle of Gettysburg. This impressive document formally appoints Alfred B. Davis as a First Lieutenant in the United States Coast Guard, then called the United States Revenue Cutter Service. Issued in Washington, D.C., the appointment features a clean, full-name signature of President Lincoln rendered in bold black ink. While most Lincoln signatures encountered in the hobby feature the shorter, abbreviated “A. Lincoln” style, official presidential documents typically called for the more formal, full-name signature. The commission also bears the countersignature of Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase.

The commission's date is of extraordinary historical importance. Signed on July 1, 1863, it coincides precisely with the opening day of the Battle of Gettysburg, the bloodiest battle of the Civil War and one of the most consequential engagements in American history. The Union victory three days later would mark a critical turning point in the conflict. This remarkable date places the document at one of the defining moments of Lincoln's presidency, adding tremendous historical significance to an already impressive presidential appointment.

Equally compelling is the commission's connection to the origins of the United States Coast Guard and its important role in the Union war effort. Established in 1790 under President George Washington, the Revenue Cutter Service was originally tasked with enforcing customs laws, preventing smuggling, and protecting federal revenue. By the outbreak of the Civil War, however, the service had evolved into an armed maritime force whose vessels and officers would play an active role in defending the Union.

Throughout the conflict, revenue cutters operated alongside the United States Navy, enforcing blockades of Confederate ports, intercepting vessels carrying supplies to the South, protecting Northern shipping lanes, and participating in naval combat operations. In fact, a Revenue Cutter Service vessel was responsible for firing the first naval shot of the Civil War near Fort Sumter in April 1861, demonstrating the service's direct involvement from the very beginning of the conflict. These operations made the Revenue Cutter Service an important component of the Union's wartime maritime strategy.

It was during this critical period that Lincoln signed the present commission, formally appointing Alfred B. Davis as a First Lieutenant in the service. Davis had entered the Revenue Cutter Service in 1861, and his presidential commission followed legislation enacted in February 1863 establishing a formal appointment process for its officers. Promoted to captain in 1864, Davis would go on to enjoy a lengthy maritime career, commanding several federal revenue cutters. In 1915, the Revenue Cutter Service merged with the United States Life-Saving Service to establish the modern United States Coast Guard.

An incredible document signed by President Lincoln on one of the most important dates in American history, tied to an integral component of the Union's military effort. Measuring approximately 17 x 13.5 inches, the commission has been professionally framed to preserve its integrity and historical significance for generations to come!

Comes with a Letter of Authenticity from Grad Authentication.

President Abraham Lincoln Signed Civil War Appointment, Gettysburg. Grad Auth.
President Abraham Lincoln Signed Civil War Appointment, Gettysburg. Grad Auth.0
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