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Very early Presidential document signed by President Abraham Lincoln and his first Secretary of War, Simon Cameron. The document is dated March 22, 1861 appointing regular army officer George L. Hartsuff as assistant adjutant general. Hartsuff eventually was promoted all the way to Major General and retired with this rank.

George Lucas Hartsuff (1830-May 16, 1874) was an American soldier, born at Tyre, New York. He graduated at West Point in 1852, graduating 19th out of 43 in his class. He served on the frontier and in Florida, where, during a fight with the Seminole Indians near Fort Myers, he received a wound which eventually caused his death. Hartsuff survived the wreck of the steamer Lady Elgin on Lake Michigan on September 8, 1860.

On March 22, 1861, Hartsuff was appointed assistant adjutant general with the brevet rank of captain and was assigned to duty under Rosecrans in West Virginia. He held under staff positions, eventually serving briefly as chief of staff of the Mountain Department. Hartsuff became a brigadier general on April 15, 1862. He served in third corps Army of Virginia and then in the Army of the Potomac. Hartsuff was severely wounded in the hip at Antietam while leading a brigade in second division I Corps. Immediately after the battle he was made a brevet colonel in the regular army for gallant and meritorious services.

Hartsuff was promoted to the rank of major general on November 29, 1863. Returning to active duty, he commanded XXIII Corps in the Army of the Ohio from May 28, 1863 to September 24, of the same year. This period included the early stages of the Knoxville Campaign of Major General Ambrose Burnside.

On March 13, 1865, he was given the brevet rank of major general in the regular army, and from March 19, to April 16, of the same year was in command of Bermuda Hundred in the Army of the James. Then he commanded the District of Nottoway in the Department of Virginia from May 22, to August 24, 1865.

Hartsuff was mustered out of the volunteer service on August 24, 1865, and served in the regular army as a lieutenant colonel. Hartsuff resigned from the regular army on June 29, 1871, because of disability resulting from wounds received in battle. Hartsuff was retired with the rank of major general. He died on May 16, 1874 and was buried at the West Point Cemetery.

Document printed on vellum is in excellent condition overall. Lincoln's early signature remains bold. It is beautifully framed with archive quality materials. A spectacular display piece signed by one of our finest President's for a loyal, devoted general officer.