Annotation
[1] LS (copy?), DLC-Nicolay Papers. The letter is in John Hay's handwriting signed by Lincoln. On September 19, 1863, Charles G. Halpine (``Miles O'Reilly'') wrote Lincoln as follows:
``The subscriber was appointed Asst. Adjt. Genl. of Vols. with the rank of Major on the 5th of Sept. 1861. . . .
``Since his appointment as Major and Asst. Adjt. Genl., he has served as A.A.G. and Chief of Staff to General Hunter. . . .
``In November, last, the subscriber was appointed Asst. Adjt. Genl. of the 10th Army Corps, Dept of the South, with the rank of Lieut. Colonel, in which capacity he served until the 1st of last July, when he was relieved at his own request and on medical certificate showing that he had lost the sight of one eye in the service, and . . . the remaining eye . . . would be certainly destroyed by a further exposure to . . . the climate . . . of the South.
``On being so relieved, your Subscriber was returned to duty with the rank of Major and assigned to Gen. Dix. . . . To this lowering of his rank he would beg . . . to call your attention---more especially in view of the fact that he has reason to believe that his name has been frequently brought before your Excellency . . . for promotion to . . . Brigadier. For this promotion . . . he has no desire; but he does beg of you to relieve him from the apparent stigma of being reduced in his grade. . . .'' (DLC-RTL).
Halpine was brevetted lieutenant colonel as of June 5, 1864.