Dear Sir: Washington, Sep. 15. 1863.
The bearer of this, Mrs. Craddock, tells me she has a nephew---Edwin Selvage---who was in the rebel service, made a prisoner, and is now at Fort-Delaware; that he has two brothers in the Union Army, is yet under twenty one years of age; and wishes to take the oath of allegiance and be discharged. Upon reasonable proof of all this, let him take the oath and be discharged. Yours truly
A. LINCOLN