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Connecticut Civil War Governor William A. Buckingham 1865 Signed Executive Department Stationary

William A. Buckingham, "Connecticut's Lincoln," like his more famous counterpart was an obscure politician who rose to the challenge when facing the crucible of the Civil War. Buckingham was elected in Connecticut by the newly formed Republican Party which wanted a non-controversial candidate. The Connecticut heritage web site hyperlinked in the first sentence notes that,

 the leaders of the Republican party on the national level were much impressed by the success of the Connecticut Republicans in running an obscure person for governor. Many of them remembered the lesson in the 1860 convention that nominated Lincoln.

Buckingham's unusual dedication to the Union was evident as soon as the Civil War began:

Buckingham was governor when Fort Sumter was fired on. Because the General Assembly was not in session at the time, Buckingham immediately responded on his own authority to Lincoln's call for volunteers. Within two days, he had begun the process that quickly supplied the Union Army with twice as many men from Connecticut as the president had asked for. In order to equip the recruits, Buckingham borrowed money on his own credit.

Offered here is a Buckingham signed Executive Department stationary with the seal of the State of Connecticut that is about 5 x 4 1/2" and dated a month after Abraham Lincoln was laid to rest and the remaining Confederate forces surrendered.

After the War Buckingham declined to run for Governor after his eighth term and went onto election as a United States Senator in 1868, a position in which he served until is death in February, 1875.

There is some mounting residue on the back of the stationary at the corners which shows through on the front. Governor Buckingham was obviously schooled in calligraphy and has a nice neat big signature which is very consistent, as shown in an enlarged view below.

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