1832 was a transformative year in Abraham Lincoln’s life, as he both served in the military and entered politics in that year. The Black Hawk War broke out near Lincoln’s home of New Salem, Illinois, and the patriotic young store manager quickly joined up with the local militia. It was here that Lincoln experienced his first electoral success, albeit on a very minor scale. The men of Lincoln’s unit selected “The Railsplitter” as their captain, an honor which moved Lincoln deeply.

               After the war Lincoln ran for office for the first time in his political career. A Whig candidate for the state legislature in 1832, Lincoln finished eighth out of 13 candidates. While he failed to attain office, Lincoln would soon go on to the successful political career that saved a nation.

               This note, signed by a 23-year-old Lincoln, is an endorsement regarding the legal case Metcalf vs. Bennett. The author of the brief alleges that the defendant is guilty of trespassing charges levied against him. This note is written in black fountain pen on an 8 x 6 inch piece of paper. Lincoln hand wrote the last two lines on the bottom left portion of this document. It is in excellent condition save for two horizontal folds, minor toning, and small tape repairs on the back. This item comes with a LOA from Steve Grad of Beckett Authentication (A03312).

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