Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 5 [Oct. 24, 1861-Dec. 12, 1862].

About this Item

Title: Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 5 [Oct. 24, 1861-Dec. 12, 1862].
Author: Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865.
Publication: New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press; 1953.
Rights/Permissions: The University of Michigan Library provides access to these materials for educational and research purposes, with permission from their copyright holder. If you decide to use any of these materials, you are responsible for making your own legal assessment and securing any necessary permission.
Cite this Item: "Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 5 [Oct. 24, 1861-Dec. 12, 1862]." In the digital collection Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/lincoln5. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 24, 2024.

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To William Sprague1Jump to section

His Excellency Gov. William Sprague--- Executive Mansion,
My dear Sir Washington, Sep. 20. 1862.

I am sure you can not be ignorant of my strong desire to oblige you, so far as in my own judgment, I consistently can; but I can not now so do, that, the procuring of which, seems to be the mission of your friend, J. A. Perry. Yours truly A. LINCOLN

Annotation

[1] ALS, CSmH. John A. Perry, captain and chaplain of the First Rhode Island Light Artillery, was possibly Governor Sprague's emissary. A letter from Thomas A. Jenckes of Providence, September 11, 1862, with envelope indicating its delivery to the president by ``Capt Perry,'' reads as follows: ``Our Governor desires that I shall join him in the request that his 6th (colored) regiment shall be received into the service of the United States. I do so with the greatest pleasure. . . .'' (DLC-RTL). On September 26 Sprague replied to Lincoln's letter, ``Your recent Proclamation changes somewhat the policy of the war. I had that policy only in mind in calling the negros to arms. . . .'' (Ibid.).

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