Abraham Lincoln Document Signed

Partly-printed vellum DS as president, one page, 14.25 x 17.75, April 1, 1862. President Lincoln appoints William B. Remey, Jr. as "Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps." Boldly signed at the conclusion by President Lincoln and countersigned by Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles. The white seal affixed at the bottom remains fully intact. Handsomely double-matted and framed to an overall size of 24.75 x 28. In fine condition, with one small area of loss to the left of the printed "Greeting" at the top.

William Butler Remey was first assigned to the Frigate Sabine, stationed on the southern coast in 1862–63. He served out the remainder of the Civil War at Norfolk, and received a promotion to first lieutenant. In 1878, Remey became the first uniformed chief legal officer of the Navy. Remey was able to convince Congress that the Navy Department needed a permanent uniformed Judge Advocate General and that naval law was so unique it would be better to appoint a line officer of the Navy or Marine Corps. The bill to create the billet of Judge Advocate General of the Navy was signed in 1880. A fantastic, boldly signed Lincoln appointment for a significant figure in the history of the US Navy.