Here is a wonderful piece! This is a fantastic piece that was Autograph Endorsement signed by Abraham Lincoln in five lines including the date with the signature. Lincoln wrote vertically at lower right on last page of a letter/manuscript to Lincoln that he received from Commander R(obert) W. Meade. It is written aboard the US Ship North Carolina while at the Navy Yard in New York. It is dated November 20th 1862. This fantastic grouping contains 15 pages in all. This entire grouping is a long appeal by Meade (brother of General George G. Meade) on the grounds that he has been oversloughed (passed over) for command and rank. The first 3 pages are Meade's own letter to "His Excellency' President Lincoln; the rest are mostly copies of testimonial letters by admirals Hiram Paulding, D.D. Porter and Saml. L. Breese, Archbishop John of NY. In one of Meade's own letter, stressing his desire to serve, notes rejection of a January 1861 plan by himself and Commander J.H. Ward to relieve Ft. Sumter; and his taking command of the North Carolina, "no place of ease." He immodestly takes credit for schooling volunteer crews and officers "for all the ships that have sustained the honor of our flag...through my efforts, honor and renown has been won for the Navy..." But he has been disallowed any chance to improve the ship or discipline, feels unappreciated, and stays on only because the country needs him. "I have remained quiet...hoping that the Executive would eventually honor my present services...my zeal has been crushed by delay, my ambition...palsied...all other officers on this station have received their promotion...I have been forgotten..." Saying he can bear disappointment but no dishonor, he asks Lincoln to place his appeal before the Senate's naval committee for perusal before they act on any nominations. Lincoln complies simply by writing: "Respectfully submitted to the Senate Committee on Naval Affairs. A. Lincoln Dec. 4, 1862." Meade signs the manuscript three times (once on his letter to Lincoln, twice again on a fair copy letter to ex-Secretary of Navy Isaac Toucey). Meade eventually, in his own words, "floored all his enemies" by getting Captain's rank (from July 1862) and command of the San Jacinto. Sailing in May 1864, he unfortunately ran it aground in the Bahamas. The ship had to be abandoned; he was suspended from the service, and resigned in 1867. This letter is mentioned in Sandburg's The War Years, Vol. 2, pg. 30; in part: "Sometimes Lincoln forgot, was reminded, and forgot again, an appointment promised" and Sandburg continued explaining this circuitous case. The letters are all written on fine blue paper with the last page has dime-sized light brown stain and some scattered tiny splatter stains. These letter show that much of Lincoln's life was filled with many choices trying to solve everyone's problems. This is a fantastic glimpse into one of the multitude of matters the President had to consider. What a great piece of Civil War Lincoln history!

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