To Grenville M. Dodge1Jump to section
Washington, Mch 23. 1865.
Allow Mrs. R S Ewell the benefit of my amnesty proclamation on her taking the oath A. LINCOLN
Genl Dodge
Comg &c St Louis Mo
Annotation
[1] LS, DNA WR RG 107, Presidential Telegrams, I, 380. The sequel to this telegram is interesting. On April 21, Stanton telegraphed General George H. Thomas at Nashville: ``You are directed to arrest Mrs. General [Richard S.] Ewell, who is reported to be in Nashville and cause her to be removed immediately to Saint Louis, and enjoined to remain there until further orders.'' (OR, II, VIII, 507).
General Thomas replied on April 23: ``Mrs. R. S. Ewell has just reported to me . . . that being permitted by the President to take the amnesty oath, on the 23d of March she appeared before Lieut. George H. Richardson, assistant provostmarshal-general . . . at Saint Louis, and subscribed to the oath; and believing she had under that amnesty the right to come to this place quietly and attend to . . . her private affairs, she left Saint Louis on the 31st of March, and came for that purpose . . . Since taking the oath . . . she claims to have conducted herself as . . . a loyal citizen . . . and also as a woman under personal obligations to Mr. Lincoln, and therefore that she had the right to return to Saint Louis without military surveillance. . . . I respectfully recommend that she be permitted to remain in Nashville until next Saturday . . . and then be permitted to return . . . free from military surveillance en route.'' (Ibid.).
To this Stanton gave an immediate reply: ``You will please execute the order heretofore given in reference to Mrs. General Ewell, without regard to her representations and without unnecessary delay. . . .'' (Ibid.).