RR Auctions Jefferson Davis

Partly-printed war-dated DS, signed “Jefferson Davis, Pres’t C. S. A.,” one page, 8 x 10, September 1, 1864. Warrant to the Treasury Department, with portions filled in by Davis, who has also crossed off the printed Department of State letterhead and written “Executive Office.” In full: “Please cause a warrant for the sum of one thousand dollars in gold, payable out of the Appropriation for ‘Secret Service’ (Act of Feb. 18, 1864) to be issued in favor of Hon. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of State, and charged to him on the books of the Treasury.” In good condition, with paper loss to top left corner and left edge, intersecting folds, one through a single letter of signature, scattered toning, some repaired tears to top edge, a couple other edge tears, mounting remnants to reverse, and a few other cracks to the fragile paper.

During the war, a number of secret operations were mounted with various degrees of official oversight. Many involved acts that were considered by the Union to go beyond the normal conduct of "civilized" warfare, and allegedly included setting fires in New York City hotels (Election Day plot of 1864), poisoning the New York City water supply, infecting Union soldiers and citizens with smallpox and yellow fever, kidnapping President Lincoln and holding him until Confederate soldiers were released, and blowing up the White House. By 1864, the Confederate government was attempting to gain control over these operations. Secret legislation was put before the Confederate Congress that year to create an official Special and Secret Bureau of the War Department, but the legislation was not enacted until 1865 and never implemented. In April of 1865, Confederate Secretary of State Judah P. Benjamin burned most of the official papers of the Secret Service just before the evacuation of Richmond, and the full story of Confederate secret operations was lost. A rare document demonstrating the endorsement of Secret Service activities at the highest level of the Confederacy. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.

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