American Historical Ephemera & Photography

JOHNSON, Andrew. Partly-printed appointment signed ("Andrew Johnson"), as President of the United States. Washington, D.C., 20 April 1865. 1p, 15 3/4 x 19 3/4 in. (creasing, toning, dampstaining). Docketing to upper left corner. 

An appointment for Murray Davis as Assistant Adjutant General of Volunteers with the rank of Captain. Signed by President Johnson and countersigned by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. One of Johnson's earliest presidential appointments, signed less than a week after Lincoln's death. 

[With:] Additional documents associated with Davis, comprising: a groups of 5 appointments stamp-signed by Johnson as President and countersigned by either Edwin M. Stanton or J.M. Schofield as Secretary of War, appointing Davis to the ranks of 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st Regiment of Cavalry (20 April 1866), Captain 8th Regiment of Cavalry (5 March 1867), Lieutenant Colonel by Brevet (3 April 1867); Colonel by Brevet (April 1867); and Major by Brevet (18 June 1868).

[Also with:] DENNISON, William (1815-1882). Document signed ("W. Dennison") as Governor of Ohio appointing Davis as Notary Public, Franklin County, Ohio, 30 October 1861. --TOD, David (1805-1868). Document secretarially signed appointing Davis 2nd Lieutenant, 95th Reg OVI, 31 December 1862; and document signed ("David Tod") appointing Davis 1st Lieutenant 95th Reg OVI, 3 September 1863. -- Three academic diplomas issued to Davis. -- Green painted tole document tube identified in gold letters to "Murray Davis. U.S.A."

Records related to Murray Spurzheim Davis (1839-1877) outside of his military service are somewhat scarce and inconsistent, but a book purported to have been written by his brother in 1916 said this of Davis's service during and after the war: "[Murray Davis] was detached for duty at the War Department, soon becoming the confidential military aide attached to the person of Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War. He was with that distinguished personage all through the trying period following the assassination of Lincoln. At the close of the rebellion he was commissioned [into] the Regular Army, assigned to the 8th U.S. and served until 1874 in various Indian campaigns....He was appointed Superintendent of the Mint at San Francisco by President Johnson, and later was appointed and confirmed Minister to China. While preparing for this mission he was attacked by a fatal illness, and within an incredibly short time was laid to rest...."

See Lot 334 for Davis appointment signed by Lincoln.