Rock Island Auction Company is extremely pleased to offer this incredibly historic document: William Conant Church's Civil War appointment as Captain, as officially signed by President Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. The letter states "Know ye, That reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity, and abilities of William C. Church I have nominated, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint him Commissary of Subsistence of Volunteers, with the rank of Captain in the service of the United States: to rank as such from the fourth day of October eighteen hundred and sixty two. He is therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of Commissary of Subsistence by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging. And I do strictly charge, and require all Officers and Soldiers under his command to be obedient to his orders as Commissary of Subsistence. And he is to observe and follow such orders, and directions, from time to time, as he shall receive from me, or the future President of the United States of America, or the General, or other superior Officers set over him, according to the rules and discipline of war. This Commission to continue in force during the pleasure of the President of the United States, for the time being. Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, this tenth day of March in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and sixty three and in the eighty seventh year of the Independence of the United States. (signed) By the President, Abraham Lincoln/Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of Wars." The document features an illustration of an Eagle at top, and a patriotic vignette at bottom with an array of flags, muskets, cannons, drums, pikes, and armor. A green seal is affixed at the top below a red handwritten administrative note dated March 10, 1863. William Conant Church (1836-1917) was well known for his newspaper work before, during, and after the Civil War, and established "The Army and Navy Journal" in 1863 with his brother, Francis Pharcellus Church, which was published under various names for 151 years. In the early part of the Civil War, in 1861, he traveled south under Union General Sherman's command and saw the capture of Port Royal Sound, South Carolina, from Confederate forces on November 7th, 1861. He returned to New York and wrote about the Union victory in the New York Evening Post. He subsequently volunteered to serve with Colonel Silas Casey, under Major General George McClellan in the Army of the Potomac, and participated in the battle of Williamsburg, where he received an injury, and continued on to participate in the Battle of Seven Pines. He was given the rank of Captain after his injury at Williamsburg, and would quickly rise to earn the ranks of Major and Lieutenant Colonel of volunteers. In 1871, William Church and George Wood Wingate founded the National Rifle Association.

Exceptionally fine. The document is folded, shows limited soiling and is clearly legible, including the handwritten notations. This historical Presidentially signed Civil War document would make a prized addition to any public or private collection.