Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 6 [Dec. 13, 1862-Nov. 3, 1863].

Memorandum Concerning Troops in New York1Jump to section

Executive Mansion Washington, Oct. 31. 1863

The Provost-Marshal-General has issued no proclamation at all. He has, in no form, announced anything recently in regard to troops in New-York, except in his letter to Governor Seymour of October 21st. which has been published in the newspapers of that State. It has not been announced nor decided, in any form, by the Provost Marshal-General, or any one else in authority of the government, that every citizen who has paid his three hundred dollars commutation, is liable to be immediately drafted again, or that towns that have just raised the money to pay their quotas will have again to be subject to similar taxation or suffer the operation of

the new conscription, nor is it probable that the like of these ever will be announced or decided.

Annotation

[1]   AD, DLC-RTL. This memorandum provided the substance of a telegram from John Hay to Abram Wakeman of this date in reply to a telegram from Simon Hanscom to Hay, received at 2:45 P.M. as follows: ``Dean Richmond Chairman Democratic State Committee has distributed a circular over State announcing the Pro Mar Genl Fry claims in Proclamation that this State still owes forty seven thousand six hundred (47600) men under draft just completed & that every citizen who has paid his three hundred (300) dollars commutation is liable to be immediately drafted again & that towns that have just raised the money to pay their quotas will have again to be subject to similar taxation or suffer the operation of the new conscription. The effect of this is bad. I am requested by Post Master Wakeman to ascertain by Telegraph the proper answer to make to this which must be done immediately. Will you please ask Mr. L & give me the fact in a nutshell by Telegraph soon as possible.'' (DLC-RTL).

On this telegram James B. Fry endorsed: ``I made in a letter to Gov. Seymour a full statement of his quota under the call for 300 thousand, and then told him what his quota was for the present (current) draft, and how many men had been held up to the date of my letter, and how their amount of men stood up to that date. The draft is still going on as is volunteering & the deficiency or credit for next draft if another is necessary cannot be foretold. Governor Seymour has published that letter. I know of nothing else on''

The New York Tribune for November 2, 1863, printed a despatch from Fry to Colonel Robert Nugent, acting provost marshal general at New York, November 1, denouncing the circular issued by Richmond and giving the substance of Lincoln's order of November 1, infra.

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