Andrew Johnson Pardons Confederate Major & 1st Battle of Manassas Veteran

1p partly handwritten and partly printed document registering the pardon of former Confederate Major and Assistant Adjutant General Theodore O. Chestney (1837-1925), twice signed by Chestney at the center. Chestney's loyalty oath was recorded by Notary Public F.F. Kirby in Washington, D.C. on May 27, 1868. On cream paper, with an embossed notary public seal at the lower left. Pencil inscribed at top and docketed verso. Expected paper folds, and a few stray pinholes, else near fine. 8" x 10".

The document reads in part: "[printed] Whereas, ANDREW JOHNSON, President of the United States, did, on the 7th day of September, A.D., 1867, issue a Proclamation proclaiming full pardon to certain persons engaged in the late rebellion, condition upon taking and subscribing a certain oath therein set forth and hereto attached and herein inserted…NOW THEREFORE, in order that the undersigned may receive the benefit of said Proclamation he makes oath as follows: 'I [signed] Theodore O. Chestney [printed] do solemnly swear, (or affirm,) in the presence of Almighty God, that I will henceforth faithfully support, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and the union of the States thereunder; and that I will, in like manner, abide by and faithfully support all laws and proclamations which have been made during the late rebellion, with reference to the emancipation of slaves. So help me God. [signed] T.O. Chestney".

Alabama-born Theodore O. Chestney entered the Civil War with the rank of Major and served as Assistant Adjutant General, a chief administrative role, in the Confederate Army. Chestney served as chief of staff to General Arnold Elzey (1816-1871) and personally commanded the cavalry at the July 1861 First Battle of Manassas. After swearing the loyalty oath in 1868, Chestney returned to civilian life as a banker, serving as the longtime cashier of Atlanta's Central Georgia bank. He and his family lived in Macon, where his wife, Kate Piercy Chestney, was active among the Daughters of the Confederacy. Chestney died of complications following severe burns accidentally sustained when his clothes caught fire. His obituary, appearing in the November 5, 1925 issue of the Atlanta Constitution, notes that his coffin will be draped with the Confederate flag, "the flag that he loved and under which he fought…" (See attached copy of newspaper clipping.)

On September 7, 1867, President Johnson issued the Second Amnesty Proclamation. This was just the latest iteration of a succession of presidential pardons extended to wayward Confederates; Lincoln had issued two, on December 8, 1863, and March 26, 1864, and Johnson had issued his first on May 29, 1865. Whereas Johnson's First Amnesty Proclamation excepted fourteen categories of individuals from blanket clemency, the September 7, 1867 proclamation restricted it to only three; those who had served in high Confederate government or military office, abused prisoners of war, or been involved in Lincoln's assassination could not partake. Johnson hoped that expanding the scope of eligibility for amnesty would further reconcile the nation. Although Major Theodore O. Chestney accepted the presidential pardon, the timing of his oathtaking is interesting in that it fell two weeks after President Johnson's impeachment trial failed to convict the sitting president. It is almost as if Chestney was biding his time, waiting to see if the results of the impeachment trial would render his allegiance to his former enemy null and void. President Johnson's September 1867 proclamations underscore the complicated nature of Reconstruction. Reuniting the nation proved a slow and agonizing process.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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