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I understand the Secretary of War, knows of this case, and I incline to think something should be done in it. A. LINCOLN
March 7, 1863.
Annotation
[1] AES, IHi. Lincoln's endorsement is written on a letter from James W. Fenton, Kankakee, Illinois, March 2, 1863:
``Having been for many years past a hearty supporter and laborer in your cause . . . I take the liberty of imploring you to discharge the poor Boys in the U.S. service that were recruited from this state for the Marine Artillery, and at least to discharge my son Alonzo Fenton and prospective son in law George M Wood
``My son, a weak & feeble boy, having had for some years past the consumption, and desirous of serving his country, but unable to endure the hardship of the Land service, . . . was induced to enlist in the Marine Artillery. Both he & Wood are lying in prison at Newbern N.C. . . . where they have been imprisoned by the Provost Marshall . . . for no reason but refusing to join a different branch of the service from that in which they enlisted. . . . The United voice of the State cries against retaining those men in the service. The Legislature have had to demand their discharge as they should never have been called upon to do, & I believe never would have been necessary, if you had known all the facts. . . .''
The letter is also endorsed by Peter H. Watson, assistant secretary of War, referring the matter to the adjutant general ``for investigation and report,'' but no further reference has been found.
A somewhat different picture is presented by Headquarters Department of North Carolina, General Orders No. 64, December 4, 1862: ``A portion of the Marine Artillery having forfeited their right to any benefits from the investigating court now sitting on their case by their disgraceful and mutinous conduct in refusing work, threatening to seize an armed United States boat, threatening to abandon a post of the United States left under their care, and other conduct most subversive to good order and military discipline, it is ordered that these men be distributed as follows: To . . . First United States Artillery . . . 50 men; to Third New York Volunteer Artillery . . . 100 men, the balance . . . to the volunteer regiments in this department. . . .''