Emancipation Proclamation Copy Signed By Lincoln At Auction-- Part 1: Estimated Price, $2 Million

While writing about those 48 Lincoln signed copies of the Emancipation Proclamation that were sold at the Great central Fair in Philadelphia in June 1864, I got to wondering how many are still around and how much they would be worth.

What started off earlier this month as mention of Meade's spurs and Semmes' sword at the Rock Island Auctions, this has really grown into quite a project.

From the June 25, 2012, History Site  "Emancipation Proclamation Copy Signed By Lincoln For Sale" by Eliza Hanes.

On June 26, one lucky bidder can expect to pay around $2 million to own it.

I Don't have $2 Million Lying Around.  --Old Secesh

The 44th and 12th New York Regiments At Gettysburg-- Part 1: A Butterfield Connection

From the Battle of Gettysburg site.

There is a monument to the 12th and 44th New York Infantry Regiments on the Little Round Top.  The castle-like structure was dedicated in 1893.  It is the largest regimental monument on the battlefield.

It was designed by Daniel Butterfield, the original commander of the 12th New York who was Meade's Chief of Staff at the battle.  Butterfield is the man who either wrote or rewrote the tune "Taps" for bugles which is so often played at funerals.

The monument is 44 feet high and 12 feet wide and has a spiral staircase going to the second floor observation deck.  The tower is not open these days.

There is a Maltse Cross on the monument which is the symbol of the Union's Fifth Army Corps.
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--Old SeceshTaps

Richard Kidder Meade-- Part 4

I'm spending quite a bit of time researching this young man whose life was cut way too short by typhoid. It would have been interesting to see what he would have accomplished in the Civil War.

I came across another Virginia Richard Kidder Meade on Wikipedia, born July 29, 1803, and died April 20, 1862, just three months before the Meade I've been researching. Perhaps his father? The dates would match up and both from the same state with the same name.

The other Meade was a US Representative from Virginia from 1843 to 1853, a good way to get a son into the military academy. Plus, he was appointed US Minister to Brazil from 1857 to 1861. He resigned from the position and returned to Virginia to help the Confederacy.

I now know that this Meade was the Meade who was a Confederate officer's father.

There was also another Richard Kidder Meade from Virginia whose grandfather had been the governor of North Carolina and had served with Washington during the American Revolution. He died in 1805, perhaps a grandfather?

It Just Keeps Getting Deeper. --Old B-Runner