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It is represented to me that Lewis H. Cox, Quarter-master Sergeant in the 8th. Pennsylvania Cavalry, being in hospital at Baltimore,
recently, was induced to go to Philadelphia, and receive pay, and enter, as a substitute, in Co. D. in the 111th. Pennsylvania Volunteers, under the name of John M. Dillon; and, without being arrested, or detected, has himself confessed his fault, and expressed his wish to atone for it, in the best way he can, to his father, who calls on me. Now, in case he shall faithfully perform his whole duty, according to his enlistment in the said 111th. Pennsylvania Regiment, upon that condition he is fully pardoned for the offense aforesaid. A. LINCOLN
[Endorsement]
Thinking it was better to have this young man for three years, than to shoot him, or even to have him for the remaining one year in the old regiment, I gave his father the paper, of which the within is a copy. I send it to the Department, in order that a proper note, or entry may be made on the roll of the 8th. Penn. Cavalry.
Sep. 18. 1863 A. LINCOLN
[1] DS and AES, owned by Charles W. Olsen, Chicago, Illinois. A letter from Andrew G. Curtin, September 17, 1863, requested the president's ``kind interposition in behalf of the young gentleman whose father will present this. From letters which he will exhibit . . . it is evident that his son has fallen a victim to . . . a professional substitute-broker. . . .''(DLC-RTL). The roster of the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry lists Lewis H. Cox as ``Not accounted for.'' The roster of the One Hundred Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteers lists John M. Dillon as mustered on August 26, 1863, and mustered out with Company D on July 19, 1865.