This is a lot of three documents belonging to Lieutenant John Goring. 

First is an unframed Presidential Commission on vellum. Typical commission of the period with nice spreadwinged eagle at top beneath bold “President of the United States of America.” Document is preprinted and filled in with Goring’s name and rank of 2^nd Lieutenant in the Veteran Reserve Corps. Document is signed at bottom by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton and President Abraham Lincoln and is dated August 1, 1864. The document has 5 horizontal fold creases and one vertically. Both signatures at bottom are in ink. Stanton’s is still bold while Mr. Lincoln’s is just slightly faded. Vertical and horizontal creases meet at Stanton’s signature and it is moderately effected. Horizontal crease passes through the bottom of the “Ab” in Mr. Lincoln’s first name but does not effect the rest of the signature. All other ink writing is also faded but readable. Blue seal attached and nice large grouping of flags and cannons are pictured at bottom center. Document meas. approx. 15.50 x 19.50 inches. 

Also with this comes Goring’s State of Michigan Commission to 2^nd Lieutenant in the 1^st Michigan Infantry dated January 16, 1862. The document is pre-printed with name, rank and date of commission written in ink. All ink entries and signatures are very good. Signatures include Governor Blair, the Secretary of State and the Adjutant General. Large seal is still attached. Document has 2 horizontal and two vertical fold creases. Also appears to have been repaired with tape along these lines. Archival tape may have been used as the repair does not appear ugly as is usually the case with household tape. Upper right corner is chipped as is a 2 inch area along the right edge. Document meas. approx.10.50 x 15.25 inches. 

The last document in the group is his appointment as a Master Mason. This is also made of vellum. It is decorated with various Masonic symbols  with a seal at bottom center. There are three horizontal and two vertical fold creases. Top right corner is chipped as is a small area along the right side. 

John Goring was 22 years old when he enlisted as a Private in Detroit’s Company A, 1^st Michigan Infantry on May 1, 1861 at Ann Arbor, Michigan. After serving through 1^st Bull Run the regiment was re-enlisted for 3 years. On October 31, 1861 Goring was promoted to Sergeant Major of the regiment. He served in this position till his promotion to 2^nd Lt. of Company D on January 16, 1862. With his regiment he took part in General McClellan’s Peninsular Campaign until the fight at Savage’s Station where he was wounded. His records indicate that he was left behind because of his wound and to be in charge of the other wounded men of the regiment. He was captured on June 27, 1862 and was confined at Richmond until he was exchanged for 2^nd Lt. Lewis S. Chitwood of the 5^th Alabama on August 27, 1862. Lt. Goring was discharged for disability on September 16, 1862. It appears from his record that Goring took a position working for Paymaster William Phelps. In June of 1863 Phelps wrote a letter recommending Goring for a position in the Veteran Reserve Corps which he eventually got. When he was finally discharged from the V.R.C. is not known. 

Item comes with military records and some research as well as a copy of a photo of Goring when he was an older man.