To Joseph Holt1Jump to section
My Dear Sir: Washington, January 3, 1863.
The bearer of this [Benjamin N. Martin]2Jump to section makes an appeal in behalf of General Benham. I have told him that if you can carefully examine the case, and therefore do advise the restoration of General Benham [sic].3Jump to section I do not order you to do this, but leave it to yourself. I send the papers in my possession. Yours, very truly, A. LINCOLN.
Annotation
[1] OR, I, XIV, 979.
[2] Brackets are in the source. Benjamin N. Martin was a professor at the ``University of the city of New York'' and a friend of General Henry W. Benham's.
[3] Brackets are in the source. Benham's appointment as brigadier general of Volunteers was revoked on August 7, 1862, on recommendation of Halleck and approval of Stanton, for Benham's part in the Union repulse at Secessionville, James Island, South Carolina, June 16, 1862. Holt recommended on January 26, 1863, that Benham be restored to service, and the revocation of Benham's appointment was cancelled on February 6 (OR, I, XIV, 979-83).