2004-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2004
Two Autograph Letters Signed pertaining to an amnesty request of President Andrew Johnson by Captain William L. Ritter, 3rd Maryland Artillery Company, who were captured at Vicksburg and then reassigned to a Georgia light artillery unit, and includes: Autograph Letter Signed, “William L. Ritter” 3p. quarto, Atlanta, Georgia, August 21, 1865, addrressed to “His Excellency Andrew Johnson President United States” and reads in part: “...In pursuance of the proclamation of your Excellency of the 29th of May 1865, I beg leave to submit this my application for Amnesty and pardon. I am thirty years of age, was born and raised in the state of Maryland and left that state in the Month of October 1861 and entered the military service of the so called Confederate States as private on the 16th day of December 1864 I was promoted Captain of battery of light artillery known as ‘Ritters Battery.’ I remained in the military service of the so called Confederate States until the 4th day of May 1865 when my command was surrendered by General Taylor to Maj. Genl. E.R. Canby commanding Army and Division of West Mississippi. I was regularly paroled at Meridian on teh 10th day of May 1865 a copy of which parole is hereto attached. I therefore come within the tenth exception of the said proclamation of your Excellency. I do not come within either one of the other exceptions of said proclamation. I am not the owner of any slaves; none of my property has been abandoned or is in the possession of the Military Authorities of the U.S....I have before a proper officer taken and subscribed the Oath known as the ‘Amnesty Oath’ as prescribed in the said proclamation of yoru Excellency...” Small presure sensitive tape repairs, else VG....plus; Autograph Letter Signed, M.H. Stokes, addressed to the wife of Judge Patterson, 1p. quarto, Decatur, Georgia, October 16, 1865, and reads in part: “...My object in writing to you is to beg you to use your influence with President Johnson in behalf of a young friend of mine. You have it in your power, doubtless, to confer a great favor, not only upon this young man, but upon his whole family; and I am sure you will not refuse to do it when the happiness of so many would be secured thereby. Four years ago Mr. William L. Ritter, for whom I solicit your influence, left his home in Maryland to take up arms in defence of principles he conscientiously believed to be right. He comes under the 10th exception of President Johnson’s Amnesty Proclamation and cannot safely return home till pardoned. The 21st of last August, Mr. Ritter [sent] an application to President Johnson for special pardon. This application was forwarded to Washington through the regular channels, but he has heard nothing from it...Him for whom I ask you to plead is every way worthy, he is strictly moral and possessed of qualities which make a man a useful citizen and member of society....Within you will find a copy of Mr. Ritters application for pardon,; also a copy of his parole which you will please send and then hand to the President not failing to use the influence which [as] a daughter you possess...” Fine.
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