Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 7 [Nov. 5, 1863-Sept. 12, 1864].

Annotation

[1]   AES, NN. Lincoln's endorsement is written on a memorandum from Stanton, April 22, 1864, accompanied by a letter from the governors and a telegram from General Grant, as follows:

``An estimate has been made of the probable expense of the force mentioned in the foregoing proposition and it is believed that its cost to the United States will amount to $25,000,000 The views of General Grant are indicated in the telegram a copy of which is annexed and which is a response to my enquiry as to whether he would desire the acceptance of 100 000 men as at first proposed by the Governors. In view of the importance of the ensuing campaign and the judgment of General Grant that the troops offered may be of `vast importance' I am in favor of accepting the offer. The present estimates are inadequate to meet the expense and additional appropriation will be required.''

``To the President Washington City,

of United States: April 21st. 1864.

``I. The Governors of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin offer to the President infantry troops for the approaching campaign, as follows:

Ohio 30,000

Indiana 20,000

Illinois 20,000

Iowa 10,000

Wisconsin 5,000

``II. The term of service to be one hundred days, reckoning from the date of muster into the service of the United States, unless sooner discharged.

``III. The troops to be mustered into the service of the United States by regiments, when the regiments are filled up, according to regulations, to

the minimum strength---the regiments to be organized according to the regulations of the War Department. The whole number to be furnished within twenty days from date of notice of the acceptance of this proposition.

``IV. The troops to be clothed, armed, equipped, subsisted, transported, and paid as other United States infantry volunteers, and to serve in fortifications, or wherever their services may be required, within or without their respective States.

``V. No bounty to be paid the troops, nor the service charges or credited on any draft.

``VI. The draft for three years' service to go on in any State or district where the quota is not filled up; but if any officer or soldier in this special service should be drafted, he shall be credited for the service rendered.

``Jno Brough W.M. Stone

Gov. of Ohio Gov. Iowa

``O. P. Morton James T. Lewis

Gov Ind. Gov Wis''

``Rich. Yates

``Gov. Ills

``Office U.S. Military Telegraph,

``Cipher. War Department.

``The following Telegram received at Washington, 7 P.M. Apl. 21st. 1864

``Hon. Edwin M. Stanton From H'd. Qrs. Culpepper.

``Secretary of War. Dated April 21st. 1864.

``As a rule I would oppose receiving men for a short term. but if 100,000 men can be raised in the time proposed by the Governors of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, they might come at such a crisis as to be of vast importance.

``I would not recommend accepting them in lieu of quotas now due on any previous calls for three years troops, otherwise I would.

``(Signed) U. S. Grant

Lt. Gen.''