An 1865 field pass signed by Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S Grant and Edward Stanton is among the top lots at Heritage Auctions' civil war sale in Dallas on June 7.
The document allows the bearer, Frederick Tompkins, secretary to the British National Freedman's Aid Society, to pass freely between "Norfolk, Va., Charleston, S.C., and Savannah, Ga. and return with transportation at half rates on a Govt. transport."
|
The society, largely made up of Quakers, was founded to provide help to slaves freed under Lincoln's emancipation proclamation in 1863.
Tompkins was a friend of high profile abolitionist Henry Ward Beecher, who was able to ensure that he could travel freely between the Union and Confederate states.
Heritage estimates the value of the pass at $20,000-30,000.
A civil war guide flag of the 2nd Maryland Volunteer Infantry is another highlight, valued in excess of $15,000.
Major Andrew B Brunner was the former owner of the marker, which is made from silk and features a large numeral two denoting the regiment.
The volunteers fought in some of the most pitched battles of the war, including Fredericksburg and Chantilly, losing only 89 men between 1861 and 1865.
We have these scraps of wallpaper from Lincoln's bedroom in Springfield available.
Interested in learning more about collecting? Sign up here for our free newsletter.