Art & Antiques
Sat, Nov 9, 2024 11:00AM EST
Lot 31
Robert E. Lee & Fitz John Porter Signed 1854 Document
Estimate: $2,000 - $3,000
Unsold
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $500 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $5,000 | $250 |
| $10,000 | $500 |
| $20,000 | $1,000 |
| $50,000 | $2,500 |
| $75,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
An 1854 U.S. Military Academy resignation document of Cadet William R. Likens of Mississippi, signed by superintendent Robert E. Lee and adjutant Fitz John Porter. The document is framed behind glass, measuring 21" x 15 1/4".
Lee appointed Porter adjutant in 1853. Porter and Lee would go on to play pivotal military roles in the American Civil War. A protege of Major General George B. McClellan, Fitz John Porter would eventually rise to the rank of Major General in the Union army, culminating in a controversial and key role in the Second Battle of Bull Run. Robert E. Lee is among the most prominent military figures in American history, resigning from his ascendant career in the United States Army in 1861, going on to command Virginia's forces for the Confederacy, and eventually obtaining the title of General-in-Chief of the Armies of the Confederate States.
When Porter was court-martialed for his actions in the Second Battle of Bull Run in 1862, much attention was given during the trial to his relationship with Robert E. Lee at West Point. Indeed both Porter and his mentor McClellan did have close prior ties to Lee and Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Porter's court-martial was a widely publicized and politically charged procedure, and would be ruled unjust and overturned after more than two decades of attempts by Porter to clear his name.
Condition
Wrinkling, stains, and toning to the sheet. Some of the staining along the horizontal center fold has obscured the corresponding script. Flaked losses to the sheet at the cross-folds. The signatures are crisp and clear.
Available payment options
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