Page 218 - Swann Galleries - Printed & Manuscript African Americana- Sale 2308 - March 21, 2013

402 401
401 ● (MILITARY—CIVIL WAR.) The Bearer, “Hard Times Middleton late
claimed as a slave, having been employed in hostility to the United States is
hereby . . .Declared to be free. His wife and children are also free.” Partially
printed document, accomplished by hand. 4to sheet, with the American eagle at the top;
creases where folded, some soiling. SIGNED BY MAJOR GENERAL DAVID HUNTER.
PORT ROYAL, S.C., AUG 4, 1862 [4,000/6,000]
A rare military issued emancipation for a slave named “Hard Times Middleton,” signed by the
commander of the Department of the South General David Hunter. The coast of South
Carolina, Georgia, Florida and portions of Louisiana all fell to the Union early in the war.
Middleton, must have come into the Union camp, where he was “officially” emancipated by
General Hunter, who had unilaterally “emancipated” the slaves of the three gulf states. The
Emancipation Proclamation, however had not as yet been issued, and an embarrassed Lincoln
had to “officially” declare Hunter’s emancipation of the slaves of those three states to have been
precipitous, and not official after all. However, as a curious footnote to history, Lincoln was on
this day August 4th, 1862, preparing to issue the first draft of the Proclamation to members of
his cabinet. THIS IS THE FIRST EXAMPLE OF ONE OF GENERAL HUNTER’S EMANCIPATION
DOCUMENTS THAT WE HAVE HANDLED IN SEVENTEEN YEARS OF THESE SALES.
402 ● (MILITARY—CIVIL WAR.) Carte-de-visite of “Shade, the intelegent (sic)
Contraband came into the lines at Washington, N.C. summer of 1863-He thinks
he is about 3 years old.” [caption in pencil on reverse]. Standard carte-de-visite;
some toning and soiling with an abrasion to the top right corner of the photograph, not
affecting the image. Np, circa 1863 [800/1,200]
A photograph of a young black man, who from both the note on the reverse and his appearance
was probably somewhat mentally challenged. Whoever wrote the note on the reverse certainly
was trying to make fun of this unfortunate man. Parts of Eastern North Carolina were in
Union hands by the summer of 1863, confirming the note.