War-dated autograph endorsement, signed as president, “A. Lincoln,” on the reverse of a lightly-lined one page letter written to Lincoln by General S. G. Burbridge, dated November 1, 1864. Burbridge writes, in part, “Hon. C. F. Burmond speaks of going to the city of Washington…connected with the release of several person confined in our Military camps.” On the reverse, Lincoln writes, “Let the following named prisoners of war take the oath of Dec. 8, 1863, and be discharged. Josiah Gentry at Camp Douglas, Archibald W. Kavanaugh, John W. Mitchell, Jonathan D. Jones, Roger X. Quisenbery Camp Chase, William T. Simmons, Camp Douglas.” Light intersecting folds, some scattered light staining and soiling, and small mounting strip along left edge of endorsed side, otherwise fine condition.
To be sure, those prisoners released from Camp Douglas breathed a sigh of relief following the end of their captivity. Situated on Chicago’s south side, the prison was known as a brutal camp during the Civil War—earning a reputation the equivalent of Andersonville in the south. More than 26,000 Confederate prisoners passed through Camp Douglas from 1862 to 1865, and more than 6,000 are believed to have died from disease, starvation, and torture. Overcrowding resulted, in part, from the unexpectedly lengthy duration of the conflict. The situation was further complicated by a breakdown in the exchange of prisoners between the two sides after Confederate forces refused to consider captured black soldiers as prisoners of war. As a result, Lincoln also refused any prisoner exchanges, a measure that would cost him some votes in the 1864 election which was then just a week away. It’s likely that Lincoln’s decision here was motivated not only by concern for his fellow man but also by a desire to muster additional votes via a show of compassion. A brief glimpse into the darkness of a Union prisoner of war camp, and a much longer amnesty endorsement than usually seen. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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