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THBRare James Henry Lane "Frontier Guard" Signed Discharge for Delano T. Smith, May 1861
Lot 206
About Seller
Cowan's Auctions
6270 Este Ave.
Cincinnati , OH 45232
United States
With offices in Cincinnati, Cleveland and Denver, Cowan’s holds over 40 auctions each year, with annual sales exceeding $16M. We reach buyers around the globe, and take pride in our reputation for integrity, customer service and great results. A full-service house, Cowan’s Auctions specializes in Am...Read more
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About Auction
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By Cowan's Auctions
Nov 21, 2014 - Nov 22, 2014
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2014-11-21 10:00:00
2014-11-22 10:00:00
America/New_York
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- Lot Description
Rare James Henry Lane Frontier Guard Signed Discharge for Delano T. Smith, May 1861
Partially printed discharge for Delano T. Smith, a member of James H. Lane's Frontier Guards. 9 x 15.25 in. Signed by Lane and witnessed by J.B. Stockton, 2nd Lieut. Printed signatures of Simon Cameron and Abraham Lincoln, as well as another of Lane's. Wonderful document with an engraving of the White House at top and geometric border around the whole.
In one of those seldom reported events of the Civil War, James H. Lane of Kansas formed a purely volunteer group made up largely of Kansas men - from senators and house members, job seekers, clerks and ordinary folks. Kansas had just been admitted to the Union on January 29, 1861, and many Jayhawkers were in Washington for various reasons. A similar company, "Clay Guards," was formed by Cassius Clay of Kentucky.
Several "real" militia units were headed to Washington from New York and Pennsylvania, but when the 6th Massachusetts was attacked in Baltimore, and rumors started trickling in that Washington would be attacked and the President held hostage, the government decided to err on the side of safety. Lane had offered a small force to guard the President on his trip from Illinois to the capital, an offer that was politely declined. However, this new threat was more serious, and Washington was caught between Virginia, which seceded on April 17, and Maryland, which was in upheaval and looked as if it would also secede. Word was sent to James Lane in Willard's Hotel, where he had taken up residence, from General Winfield Scott and Secretary of War, Simon Cameron. Lane sent runners to rally his men, and they marched down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House, where they bivouacked in the East Room. There are numerous descriptions of that surreal scene in contemporary newspapers - armed men, and a motley group at that, arms stacked down the center of the room, with men sleeping on the velvet carpet along either wall, gas chandeliers overhead. Sentinels walking the room reportedly would not even allow the President and First Lady to enter.
By April 27, several state militias had arrived in Washington. Lane wrote to Secretary of War Cameron requesting authority to disband the Guard and honorably discharge its members given the number of troops that were then in the city. Cameron concurred, and the Frontier Guard ceased to exist, barely 10 days after it formed.
Since they served without pay, they were never mustered into Federal service, and thus no roll of members was ever written down. The numbers of men in the unit is generally thought to have been about 120 (some have claimed as many as 200, but the former seems more reasonable given the circumstances). Probably less than half of those are known. Lane decided that even though his men received no compensation, they would at least be received by the President and receive a discharge. This is the result of that decision.
An extremely rare item, since fewer than 150 were probably ever printed.
(See also Lots 185-187 and 205, which relate to Delano T. Smith and descended directly in his family.)
Provenance: Descended Directly in the Family of Delano T. SmithHorizontal folds throughout document, few scattered spots. Signatures remain strong and legible.Condition
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