Lincoln, Abraham, as Sixteenth President

Autograph letter signed ("A. Lincoln"), 1 page (10 x 8 in.; 253 x 203 mm) on a bifolium of blue-ruled Executive Mansion letterhead, Washington, 13 February 1864, to Mrs. V. C. H. [corrected from "J. J."] Neagle, verso of integral blank with lengthy autograph endorsement signed ("A. Lincoln"), 22 February 1864, and with a series of other endorsements and dockets (see below); verso of integral blank browned, some light soiling to page of letter, a few clean fold separations.

Not in The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, ed. Basler, and evidently unpublished

Autograph letter signed ("A. Lincoln"), 1 page (10 x 8 in.; 253 x 203 mm) on a bifolium of blue-ruled Executive Mansion letterhead, Washington, 13 February 1864, to Mrs. V. C. H. [corrected from "J. J."] Neagle, verso of integral blank with lengthy autograph endorsement signed ("A. Lincoln"), 22 February 1864, and with a series of other endorsements and dockets (see below); verso of integral blank browned, some light soiling to page of letter, a few clean fold separations.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

An unusually fiery letter by Lincoln, excoriating a civilian couple for their perceived lack of loyalty to the Union; unpublished and previously unknown.

Mrs. V. C. K. Neagle had written the President to ask that her husband's parole be expanded to allow occasional visits to Washington, prompting Lincoln to draft this sharp reply: "I have carefully read your letter, herewith returned. As I understand it your husband's offence was that he knowingly and willfully helped a rebel to get out of our lines to the enemy to join in fighting and killing our people, and that he did this for love of you. You protest, nonetheless, that you and he are loyal, and you may really think so, but this is a view of loyalty which it is difficult to conceive that any sane person could take, and one which the government can not tolerate and hope to live. And even now, what is the great anxiety of you and your husband to get to Washington but to get into a better position to repeat this species of loyalty? There is certainly room enough North of the Susquehana for a great variety of honest occupation."

Lincoln evidently never sent this letter, pondering the case and reconsidering it after receiving a visit from Senator James Harlan (who was to become Robert Todd Lincoln's father-in-law). Lincoln's endorsement on his own letter explains: "After reading the first of these letters and writing the over signed by myself, Senator Harlan, of Iowa, came with this lady, and told me he had become well acquainted with the family, that he is sure now of them having any designs against the government, and that they have been diligent friends and workers for our side and wounded in the hospitals. I propose that the husband's parole be enlarged so that he may occasionally visit Washington."

The letter then went to the War Department, where an endorsement dated 5 March 1864 was signed by Edward Canby, Brigadier General, A.A.G.: "Respectfully referred to Major Turner, Judge Advocate, the parole will be enlarged as proposed by the President. By order of the Secretary of War." Below this endorsement is a docket by one Turner, noting "I gave it by order of Asst. Secy. [of War] Watson."

Two final dockets indicate that Lincoln wanted the matter behind him, as he refused to allow Mrs. Neagle to remain in the capital ("Mrs Neagle app. to remain in Washng. Declined by the Prest.") and that the present letter was evidently turned over to her husband to serve as his parole document ("J. J. Neagle O.C. Prison Discharged on Parole.")  

Mrs. Neagle's original application was forwarded to Secretary Stanton by Lincoln about 22 February 1864 and endorsed by him "I propose that the husband's parole be enlarged so that he may occasionally visit Washington" (see The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, ed. Basler, 7:199).