To Samuel R. Curtis1Jump to section
St. Louis, Mo. Washington, Dec. 16. 1862.
N. W. Watkins, of Jackson, Mo. (who is half brother to Henry Clay) writes me that a Col. of ours has driven him from his home at Jackson. Will you please look into the case, and restore the old man to his home, if the public interest will admit?
A. LINCOLN
Annotation
[1] ALS, RPB. No reply from Curtis has been found. Nathaniel W. Watkins, a prominent old Whig, had led a force of Missouri State Guards (Confederate) in the early months of the war. On November 30, 1862, he wrote Lincoln as follows:
``In December of last year Mr. [John W.] Noell the member of Congress . . . wrote to my son saying . . . that he had an interview with you in relation to me, that you had expressed kind feelings for me and that if I would come Home, and give my word that . . . I would be loyal, and take no part in the Rebellion you would restore me to my rights, and protection as a citizen. . . . Afterwards you were kind enough in the month of February last to cause the indictment pending against me to be dismissed, and restored me to all my rights as a citizen.
``So soon as I learned this . . . I returned to Missouri, and reached my home at this place in July where I have resided with my Family . . . doing nothing in any way prejudicial to the Government. . . .
``On the day before yesterday . . . Coln. Albert Jackson . . . without cause or provocation forceably drove me and my family from our House giving but three hours notice. . . .'' (DLC-RTL).