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A lady is here saying her husband served a full nine months term, and afterwards was convicted of a former desertion and sent
to the Tortugas. His name is Joshua Francis Noble. Please ascertain and report to me on his case. Yours truly A. LINCOLN
Pardoned & restored to duty A. LINCOLN
Jan. 23. 1865.
[1] ALS, DNA WR RG 153, Judge Advocate General, NN 98. Lincoln's endorsement of January 23, 1865, is written on the back in the left-hand margin. Holt's endorsement of September 10, 1864, also on the back of the letter, is as follows: ``Respectfully returned to the President with copies of the report of this office & of Majr [Samuel] Breck A.A. Genl. in the case referred to. The recommendation of the latter was adopted by the secretary of war in the case of private John Dixon, but does not appear to have been acted on in the case of Noble. The record of Noble's trial was sent to the war department with the report of this office, & having been mislaid there I am not able to present it for the consideration of the President.''
Joshua F. Noble, a private in Company A, Second New Jersey Volunteers, had deserted June 17, 1861. On September 3, 1862, he had re-enlisted in Company H, Thirtieth New Jersey Volunteers, where he served until transferred back to his old regiment on May 22, 1863. On June 26, 1863, he was sentenced to Dry Tortugas.