To Edwin M. Stanton1Jump to section
Will the Sec. of War please give Major Williams, some sort of hearing before I am required to approve or disapprove his dismissal. This is one of a batch of cases, and perhaps it would be well to give a hearing to the whole batch. A. LINCOLN
Aug. 8. 1864.
Annotation
[1] AES, NHi. Lincoln's endorsement is written on a letter of Lieutenant Colonel William Blakeley, Fourteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, Harpers Ferry, July 29, 1864, to U.S. Representative Thomas Williams, introducing Major James E. Williams, First New York Veteran Cavalry, who had been dismissed the service without trial, on charges of drunkenness: ``Why not give him a trial? Why not give him an opportunity of meeting his accuser and defending his honor. I ask it as a personal favor to me as an old friend and as one of your constituents, that you will use your influence with the President to procure a trial. . . . This is certainly nothing but justice---he does not desire to be restored to duty without trial. I feel confident that he will be honorably acquited.'' Major Williams' dismissal was never confirmed, and he was mustered out with his regiment at Camp Piatt, West Virginia, July 20, 1865.