LINCOLN, ABRAHAM. President . Autograph letter signed ("A. Lincoln") to William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D.C., 17 April 1861. 1 page, 8vo . PRESIDENT LINCOLN SENDS A SPY TO RICHMOND, FIVE DAYS AFTER FORT SUMTER Only five days after the first rebel shells fell on Fort Sumter and a scant month into his first term as President, Lincoln directs the Secretary of State to send an unofficial spy to Richmond: "The bearer of this, Mr. Geo. T. Whittington, of Alexandria Va. would go to Richmond, and make observations for us, if we would bear his expenses. I think it would be well for him to go, and if you concur with me, please fit him out." A most intriguing and quite mysterious message. No reply from Secretary Seward or further reference to George T. Whittington has been found, perhaps because, since Whittington's trip was, in effect, an espionage mission, it was thought best not to keep any record. Published in Collected Works , ed. R.P. Basler, 8:416-417 and noted in E.S. Meirs, Lincoln Day by Day, A Chronology .
LINCOLN, ABRAHAM. President . Autograph letter signed ("A. Lincoln") to William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D.C., 17 April 1861. 1 page, 8vo . PRESIDENT LINCOLN SENDS A SPY TO RICHMOND, FIVE DAYS AFTER FORT SUMTER Only five days after the first rebel shells fell on Fort Sumter and a scant month into his first term as President, Lincoln directs the Secretary of State to send an unofficial spy to Richmond: "The bearer of this, Mr. Geo. T. Whittington, of Alexandria Va. would go to Richmond, and make observations for us, if we would bear his expenses. I think it would be well for him to go, and if you concur with me, please fit him out." A most intriguing and quite mysterious message. No reply from Secretary Seward or further reference to George T. Whittington has been found, perhaps because, since Whittington's trip was, in effect, an espionage mission, it was thought best not to keep any record. Published in Collected Works , ed. R.P. Basler, 8:416-417 and noted in E.S. Meirs, Lincoln Day by Day, A Chronology .
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
