Annotation
[1] Hertz, II, 846. John Watt, public gardener at the White House under Buchanan, had been appointed first lieutenant, September 9, 1861, but the appointment was revoked February 3, 1862, following charges of disloyalty and an adverse report by the Potter investigating committee. Lincoln's request to Thomas may or may not have been the result of Representative John F. Potter's letter of September 12, forwarding to the president the testimony against Watt. In any event, Watt re-enlisted as a private in the Thirteenth New York Artillery, August 12, 1863, and gained promotion from the ranks to second lieutenant, May 20, 1865, and first lieutenant, January 17, 1866.