To David Hunter1Jump to section
My dear Sir: Your very kind letter of the 20th. was duly received, and for which, please accept my thanks.
I have another letter from a writer unknown to me, saying the officers of the Army at Fort Kearney, have determined, in case of Republican success, at the approaching Presidential election, to take themselves, and the arms at that point, South, for the purpose of resistence to the government. While I think there are many chances to one that this is a hum-bug, it occurs to me that any real movement of this sort in the army would leak out and become known to you. In such case, if it would not be unprofessional, or dishonorable (of which you are to be judge) I shall be much obliged if you will apprize me of it. Yours very truly
A. LINCOLN
Annotation
[1] ALS, CSmH. Major David Hunter, stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, wrote on October 20 that on a visit East he had received a report that a number of young men in Virginia had bound themselves ``by oaths most solemn'' to assassinate Lincoln if he were elected. Granting the absurdity of the report, he warned Lincoln to remember that ``on `the institution' these good people are most certainly demented. . . . '' (DLC-RTL).