Annotation
DS (copy not in L's hand but with 2 interlineations and signature of L) in IHi
[1] ADfS, DLC-RTL. Charles A. Dana, who had been on an inspection tour under special instructions from the War Department, brought a letter from General Stephen A. Hurlbut dated July 10, as follows:
``I take the liberty of writing this unofficial letter by Mr. Dana now on his way to Washington, that you may more fully understand the reasons of my resignation which will soon reach you.
``I believe the war as war is practically over. . . . My duties and responsibilities for the last six months have been peculiarly trying. . . . Yet . . . this and much more I would freely undergo did I believe it necessary.
``You are aware that I am very comfortably poor, in fact dependent on my profession.
``I am rapidly losing the faculty of practice and when I return unless it is done soon, shall be but a fourth rate lawyer. . . .
``It is from no disgust at the service---from no difficulties with my superiors. . . . I urgently therefore request that my resignation now passing through official channels may be accepted. . . .
``You will believe that I am perfectly sincere in this---and you too will believe that from the midst of an unbounded corruption, and with the largest opportunities for private gain, I come out of this place with clean hands. . . .'' (DLC-RTL).
Hurlbut's resignation was not accepted.
[2] On July 20, B. W. Sharp wrote Lincoln from Memphis that William K. Sebastian ``former (and present Senator Elect from the State of Ark) senator from the state of Ark . . . informed me that it is his intention upon the next meeting of Congress to be present & claim his seat. . . . The leading men of the state are desirous that he should take this course; I believe Judge S. to be a consistent Union man. . . .'' (DLC-RTL). On September 8, Hurlbut wrote Lincoln ``I have seen Mr. Sebastian and shown him your letter. . . . I doubt if Sebastian has nerve enough, to accept the necessities of the times. . . .'' (Ibid.).