Historically Important Lincoln Letter to be Auctioned by Heritage!

Dallas, TX: Called "..one of the bleakest, saddest events of American military history," by military historian David J. Eicher, the Fort Pillow Massacre, which took place on April 12, 1864, was a horrific event, and one of the most brutal acts of the entire Civil War.

Located about 40 miles north of Memphis, Fort Pillow had originally been a Confederate stronghold, but was occupied by Union troops on June 6, 1862. On April 12, 1864, Commander Nathan Bedford Forrest mounted a successful raid to retake the fort, which returned it to Confederate hands.

It was the aftermath of the battle that made this particular conflict so infamous. As the Union troops were surrendering and laying down their arms, the Confederate soldiers shot and bayoneted their foes in cold blood, contravening the rules of war that had, up until this point, been observed by both sides. In addition, disproportionately large numbers of African-American troops were tortured, butchered, and mutilated by the Confederate soldiers.

Word of the massacre reached President Abraham Lincoln shortly after the massacre took place. Obviously troubled by this ghastly turn of events, Lincoln asked his cabinet, including Secretary of State William H. Seward, Sr., for their advice on how the matter should be handled. Just a few years prior to the massacre, Lincoln had issued a proclamation regarding the treatment of enemy combatants which said in part," It is therefore ordered that for every soldier of the United States killed in violation of the laws of war, a rebel soldier shall be executed." Nonetheless, the chief executive was hesitant to take this retaliatory, and irrevocable, step.

"After collecting the opinions of his cabinet, Lincoln carefully considered the explosive situation and came to a conclusion," said Tom Slater, Director of Americana auctions for Dallas-based Heritage Auction Galleries. "On May 17, 1864, he wrote a letter to Stanton which read in full,

'Please notify the insurgents, through the proper military channels and forms, that the government of the United States has satisfactory proof of the massacre, by insurgent forces, at Fort-Pillow, on the 12th. and 13th. days of April last, of fully [blank space] white and colored officers and soldiers of the United States, after the latter had ceased resistance, and asked quarter of the former. That with reference to said massacre, the government of the United States has assigned and set apart by name [blank space] insurgent officers, theretofore, and up to that time, held by said government as prisoners of war. That, as blood can not restore blood, and government should not act for revenge, any assurance, as nearly perfect as the case admits, given on or before the first day of July next, that there shall be no similar massacre, nor any officer or soldier of the United States, whether white or colored, now held, or hereafter captured by the insurgents, shall be treated other than according to the laws of war, will insure the replacing of said [blank space] insurgent officers in the simple condition of prisoners of war. That the insurgents having refused to exchange, or to give any account or explanation in regard to colored soldiers of the United States captured by them, a number of insurgent prisoners equal to the number of such colored soldiers supposed to have been captured by said insurgents will, from time to time, be assigned and set aside, with reference to such captured colored soldiers, and will, if the insurgents assent, be exchanged for such colored soldiers; but that if no satisfactory attention shall be given to this notice, by said insurgents, on or before the first day of July next, it will be assumed by the government of the United States, that said captured colored troops shall have been murdered, or subjected to Slavery, and that said government will, upon said assumption, take such action as may then appear expedient and just.'

"The blank spaces left in this document were to be filled in later," Slater said. "The letter was never signed, and was never delivered to Seward. Ultimately, Lincoln declined to seek revenge for the massacre, finding that he was not able to order the vindictive execution of captured Confederate troops. His actions in regard to this nightmarish situation speak volumes about Lincoln's character, and strengthen our impression of this great man as a noble and just leader."

"This important document was retained for years in the papers of Major Thomas T. Eckert of the War Department telegraph office," said Sandra Palomino, Consignment Director for Heritage. "Eckert was the telegraph superintendent of the War Department and trusted emissary of President Lincoln. One of the most significant documents of the Civil War, as it not only relates to a controversial and important engagement, but also reveals volumes about the character of our 16th President, this letter has never before been offered for public sale, and we have only two records of it exchanging hands via private treaty, the last time being over 50 years ago when it was purchased by Henry E. Luhrs. This is an exceptional opportunity for the advanced Presidential collector to add this unique and important document to their collection."

The Abraham Lincoln Historic Autograph Letter will be offered in Heritage Auction Galleries. upcoming Rare Books & Manuscripts auction, to be held on October 25 & 26, 2007 in Dallas, TX.

Abraham Lincoln Historic Autograph Letter:
ESTIMATE: $40,000 - $60,000

For more information about Heritage's auctions, and a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit www.HA.com.

Prospective consignors and sellers of political memorabilia, Americana, and related collectibles are invited to visit www.HA.com/Sell. Or simply email Tom Slater at TomS@HA.com.

To reserve your copy of any Heritage auction catalog, please contact Customer Service at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 150, or visit www.HA.com/Catalog to order by email.