The President of the United States of America, to all who shall see these presents greeting: Know ye that reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity, and abilities of [Franz Sigel] I have nominated, and with the advice and co

The President of the United States of America, to all who shall see these presents greeting: Know ye that reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity, and abilities of [Franz Sigel] I have nominated, and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint him [Brigadier General of Volunteers] in the service of the United States: to rank as such from the [seventeenth] day of [May] eighteen hundred and [sixty-one] ... Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, this [seventh] day of [August] in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and [sixty-one] ... By the President, [Abraham Lincoln] ...