Partly-printed DS as president, one page, 16 x 10, February 20, 1861. President Buchanan appoints William H. Barbour as "First Lieutenant of Company 'C,' 'National Guard.' of the Militia of the District of Columbia." Boldly signed at the conclusion by President James Buchanan, and countersigned by Secretary of War Joseph Holt. In very good condition, with splitting and staining along the central vertical fold, and a tape repair to a partial split on the reverse.
This document is noteworthy in its proximity in date to the Civil War—it comes just six weeks before Abraham Lincoln took office as president, and about three months before the outbreak of the conflict. On April 15th, President Lincoln issued his first proclamation calling for 75,000 militia men to enlist in order to suppress the rebellion. The militia companies of the District of Columbia were the first to respond to the call, and within five days had raised approximately 2000 officers and men to be sworn into service. They were assigned to the duty of guarding the approaches to the city from the South and the protection of government property and buildings.
Joseph Holt's signature as Secretary of War is also significant—he served in that capacity for only six weeks, from January 18-March 5, 1861. Lincoln would appoint him as Judge Advocate General of the United States Army, and he would go on to serve as chief prosecutor in the trial of those accused of involvement in the Lincoln assassination conspiracy.
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