Auction Closing: December 14, 2024 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time
Lot Number: 171
Estimate Range: $1,200 - $1,600
1864 Maryland Governor Bradford's Proclamation Calling Out the Baltimore City Militia in Response to Confederate General Jubal Early's Invasion of Maryland

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July 12, 1864-Dated Civil War, Historic Imprint titled, "GOVERNOR BRADFORD'S PROCLAMATION. - THE CITY MILITIA CALLED OUT. - State of Maryland. - ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, Head Quarters, 293 Baltimore St. - BALTIMORE, July 12, 1864.", Choice Very Fine.

This rarely encountered Imprint, which bears an illustration of the Maryland State Seal at upper left, measures 5.25" x 8", Uniface, and is Signed in Type by John S. Berry, the Adjutant General of Maryland, and is designated General Order No. 28, ordering the Baltimore City Militia to assemble the next day in their respective Wards, By order of the Governor and Commander-in-Chief, noting that:

"The invasion of the State by the Public enemy, and their threatened approach to this City rendering it necessary to exercise the power vested in the Commander-in-Chief of the Militia, of calling them into actual service... upon consultation with the Commanding General of the Eighth Army Corps, it has been determined that the whole enrolled militia of this City be ordered to prepare for immediate service... They will be officered, armed and equipped in pursuance of the regulations governing the United States Service...".

Issued in direct response to the Battle of Monacacy, which was fought on July 9, 1864, about 6 miles from Frederick, Maryland. Confederate forces under Lt. General Jubal A. Early defeated Union forces under Major General Lew Wallace. That battle was the northernmost Confederate victory of the Civil War. Afterward, the Union troops retreated to Baltimore, MD, and the Confederates continued toward Washington, D.C. where Jubal Early launched an attack on Washington, D.C. on July 12th at the Battle of Fort Stevens, during which President Lincoln was present and nearly shot by standing in the open, but the Confederates were unsuccessful and retreated to back to Virginia. A very rare historic Imprint, lacking in most all collections.