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Mr. J. C. Swift wishes a pass from me to follow your army to pick up rags and cast-off clothing. I will give it to him if you say so, otherwise not. A. LINCOLN.
[1] Tarbell (Appendix), p. 428. On March 4 and March 9, 1864, John C. Swift had written Lincoln offering to pay $200 per month to the Sanitary Commission for the exclusive privilege of picking up clothing cast off by Grant's army (DNA WR RG 107, Secretary of War, Letters Received, P 311 and P 134, Register notation. Both letters are missing from the file). No reply from Meade has been found.