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Owing to extreme pressure of business, I have neglected for a week to write this note. General Busteed is with you. I bespeak for him your kindest consideration. His case is peculiar. Without much military experience he has entered the service from purely patriotic
motives. Please assign him the position best adapted to his case, which may be within your power. Yours very truly
A. LINCOLN.
[1] LS (copy?), DLC-RTL. This letter is in John Hay's handwriting, but signed by Lincoln. Concerning General Busteed, see Lincoln to Stanton, August 7, supra. General Dix replied on December 29, ``I have just received your note in regard to Genl. Busteed, and am happy to inform you that I had anticipated your wishes by assigning him to a command at Yorktown under Maj. Genl. Keyes, an experienced officer, who will put him in the way of acquiring a knowledge of his duties. He is already in charge of a Brigade. . . .'' (DLC-RTL).