LINCOLN, Abraham (1809-1865). Autograph endorsement signed ("A. Lincoln") as President, n.p., 16 January 1865, comprising three lines of text, plus signature and date line, excised from the original letter.

One page, 82 x 43mm. (light soiling, non-intrusive surface loss at upper-left corner, laid down to matboard). Framed.

Lincoln pardons a group of Confederate troops upon their swearing the oath of allegiance: "Let these men respectively take the oath of Dec. 8 1863 & be discharged". On December 8, 1863, Lincoln announced in his annual message to Congress that he would offer a pardon to any Confederate soldier willing to swear the following oath to the United States: "I do solemnly swear, in presence of Almighty God, that I will henceforth faithfully support, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Union of the States thereunder; and that I will, in like manner, abide by and faithfully support all acts of congress passed during the existing rebellion with reference to slaves, so long and so far as not repealed, modified, or held void by Congress, or by decision of the Supreme Court; and that I will, in like manner, abide by and faithfully support all proclamations of the President made during the existing rebellion having reference to slaves, so long and so far as not modified or declared void by decision of the Supreme Court. So help me God."