[LINCOLN] Letter to Lincoln for Husband's Backpay

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Day 2: Early & Historic Americana

By Fleischer's Auctions

Oct 10, 2025

Set Reminder 2025-10-10 09:00:00 2025-10-10 09:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Day 2: Early & Historic Americana https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/fleischers-auctions/day-2-early-historic-americana-19250
Day one of Fleischer's 2025 Fall Premier auction includes early American artifacts, documents, signatures, ephemera, and weaponry. Rare material relating to African American history is featured, as well as fine examples of antique photography. Fleischer's Auctions info@fleischersauctions.com

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• Lot Description

  Note: Please see Day 3 (October 11) of the sale that features rare material relating to the Gettysburg Address.

   

  Autograph letter signed by Loving Lieblong, to President Abraham Lincoln. Freeport, [Pennsylvania], 16 June 1862. 3 pages, 8vo, on patriotic letterhead printed in red and blue. With extensive docketing signed by Gideon Bull, J. Ledzard Hodge, addressing the complaints to verso.

   

  A Civil War letter written by Loving Lieblong, the wife of stonemason William N. Lieblong (alt. Lieblang), who was serving in Company G of the 40th Pennsylvania Infantry (11th Pennsylvania Reserves) and was owed back pay. Rather than addressing any army officers or state officials, she addresses her letter directly to President Abraham Lincoln, blissfully unaware of the weight of his responsibilities. 

   

  With desperation and sincereity she implores the President: "I take this present opportuniuty to let you know that my husband has been sick in the General Hospital, Washington Street, Alexandria and when the pay master come around he was sick and didn't get his pay and then they paid the sick he was back at his regiument and did not get his pay and now as it is 5 long months since I have been living on 5 dollars a month that I got from the Relief Committee. And now they have taken the relief all off and I have got 5 small children and you cannot think that I can work to maintain us then."

   

  Despite its lofty recipient, Lieblong's letter was addressed, with several lengthy notes to the verso addressing the issue of her husband's backpay.

   

  William N. Lieblong (1820-1898) was a German emigrant who enlisted at Camp Wright near Pittsburgh on 8 June 1861 with the 11th Pennsylvania Reserves, also known as the "Apollo Independent Blues" and later redesignated the 40th Pennsylvania Infantry. They were a hard-fought regiment battling throughout the Eastern Theater, including in the Peninsula Campaign, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, and the bloody Overland Campaign.

   

  The 1890 Veterans Schedule notes that Lieblong was "wounded in hand arm" - possibly at the Battle of Fredericksburg - and the pension files indicate that he filed for an "invalid" pension on 15 May 1863. His disabling injury was not so severe, however, that it prevented him from resuming his stonemason trade following the war.

   

  A delightfully audacious letter.

   

  [Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Manuscripts, Documents, Letters, Ephemera, Signatures, Autographs]

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