Description:

Abraham Lincoln
New York, NY, Apr. 23, 1865
Admitting a Navy Surgeon as "Guard of Honor" Over Lincoln's Remains
DS
An intriguing and very rare partly-printed document signed, New York, April 23, 1865, signed by Assistant Adjutant General Martin T. McMahon, in which a Naval Surgeon, George Peck, is detailed as a "GUARD OF HONOR" from April 25, 1865 from 4am - 6am: "over the remains of President Lincoln…". Peck then presented the pass (likely as a souvenir), to a Reverend D. H. Pierson, signing at bottom. One page, 5" x 8". Light wear to right edge, otherwise very good. Research has not turned up another Honor Guard pass like this!

While thousands participated in Lincoln's funerals and the transport of the catafalque containing Lincoln's body, the group of soldiers who became known as the Honor Guard was especially important to the safety of the remains. The Guard consisted of 29 members of the Volunteer Reserve Corps, a military organization made up of men partially disabled during the war or who had served their full enlistment and wished to continue serving. These decorated soldiers carried the coffin at each city and opened it there for view to the thousands of mourners. They were the only persons permitted to move the President's casket to and from the funeral train, and move it to and from cities where the president lay in state. The members of President Lincoln's Honor Guard were presented with the Congressional Medal of Honor after completing their service, but these were revoked in 1900 due to a more stringent criteria for earning a Medal of Honor.

George Peck (1826-1905) was commissioned as assistant surgeon in the US Navy in 1851, serving on both the SEMINOLE and DICTATOR during the Civil War. He retired in 1888. It is not immediately clear how he was involved, as he is not listed on the official roster of the Honor Guard.

Martin Thomas McMahon (1838-1906) was a decorated Union lieutenant colonel. The former aide-de-camp to McClellan, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Oak Swamp: "…Under fire of the enemy, successfully destroyed a valuable train that had been abandoned and prevented it from falling into the hands of the enemy."  He served then as Assistant Adjutant General of the 6th Corps (January 1, 1863 to August, 1865), serving in New York under John Sedgwick and Horatio G. Wright.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 5" x 8"
  • Medium: DS

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September 18, 2024 10:00 AM EDT
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