^#1967 ^Lot 2028 South Carolina Military Commission

Partly-printed DS, signed “F. W. Pickens,” one page, 14 x 8.5, November 19, 1861. South Carolina Military Commission, appointing “T. G. Croft as Jr. 2nd Lieutenant of the Co. ‘C’ 16th Regiment S. C. V. mustered into Confederate service for twelve months, Which said company you are to Lead, Train, Muster, and Exercise, according to Military Discipline,” signed by Governor Pickens and William R. Hunt, Deputy Secretary of State. In very good condition, with three vertical folds, light creasing and toning, and a few small edge tears. A fervent supporter of states rights, Pickens served as the governor of South Carolina, and it was under his administration that the state seceded from the Union and demanded the surrender of all Federal forts in Charleston Harbor. Pickens signed the South Carolina Ordinance of Secession and strongly advocated the secession of all the southern states. On Jan. 9, 1861, he sanctioned the firing upon the Federal relief ship, Star of the West, which was bringing supplies to Major Robert Anderson's beleaguered garrison. He also approved the bombardment of Fort Sumter which began the War Between the States!