“THE 8TH OF JANUARY,A DAY EVER MEMORABLE IN . . . HISTORY”
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JACKSON, ANDREW. Autograph Letter Signed, to Edward G.W. Butler,
acknowledging receipt of a letter and gift, noting that the date of receipt coincides with
that of an important day in his own history, conveying regards and news of friends and rel-
atives. 1
1
/
2
pages, 4to, with integral address leaf (nearly detached); ink blots along vertical
folds with some loss to text from ink burn affecting all pages, horizontal fold through sig-
nature (without loss), few small holes at scattered fold intersections.
Hermitage, 2 February 1826
[1,000/1,500]
“
I have just rec’d your . . . letter of the 8th of January last, with the estimable present from Mrs. Lewis
. . . . be pleased to present her with . . . acknowledgement of the precious relic.
“
On the 8th of January, a day, ever memorable in the history of my life, to receive the greeting of my
friends is certainly most acceptable to me; . . .”
The gift of a lock of George Washington’s hair was sent to Jackson by Eleanor Parke Custis Lewis,
the step-granddaughter of George Washington and Edward G.W. Butler’s mother-in-law (
Papers of
Andrew Jackson
, ed. Moser and Clifft, vol. 6, p. 136, n. 1, 2002).
On January 8, 1815, General Andrew Jackson won a decisive victory against the invading British
Army in the Battle of New Orleans.