Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 8 [ Sept. 12, 1864-Apr. 14, 1865, undated, appendices].

ADDITIONS

To Joseph Gillespie1Jump to section

Springfield,
Dear Gillespie--- March 29. 1850

I suppose you are well acquainted at Greenville, and attend court there regularly. There are, at or near that place, two brothers, and a brother-in-law, by the names of Richard Briggs, Henry Briggs, and James Bradford. They have a niece here, a near neighbor of mine, by the name of Stout, formerly Huldah Briggs, who thinks they have wronged her in relation to the estates of her grand-father and grand-mother Briggs---and she is resolved to be righted if possible. I doubt not she confidently believes in the justice of her cause; and she has so far convinced me, that I strongly sympathise with her, and intend to not drop the case till I know more about it. She writes them, and they will not answer her---itself a suspicious circumstance. Now I desire you, as a favor to me, when next you are there, to see them, and tell them of this determination of hers, and notify them to do her justice, either by giving her, her own, or taking the small trouble of convincing her, that they have nothing of hers. Generally, find out all you can, in your own way, about the matter, and write the result to Ebenezer Stout, the lady's husband, at this place. Write him, because I shall be absent on the circuit. The grand-father died in Massachusetts; and the grand-mother in Bond county, whither it is thought she brought effects of her husband, and where she certainly drew a large pension for several years. Whether there was any administration in Bond, of the effects of either, you can readily see.

Please attend to this without failure; and I will do as much, with interest, for you, on demand. Yours as ever A. LINCOLN---

Annotation

[1]   ALS, ICHi. See Lincoln's letter to John Tillson, February 15, 1850, supra (II, 73).

To Adam Adams1Jump to section

Mr. Adam Adams Springfield,
Dear Sir: Jany. 19. 1853.

The Judge this morning, decided our case against us. I paid the cost, and took a new trial. It will not be tried again until next summer

term. Feeling more than an ordinary interest for you, in this case, it is my opinion, you should be on hand, with your witnesses next summer, so as to get a trial, the record of which, shall be in the best possible form to go to the Supreme court. In addition to what we proved before about possession, I want to get in such circumstances as shall make it almost, or quite certain, that you had no actual notice of Kemper's judgment, when you bought, and took possession of the land. I think it may be important to make this point of ``want of actual notice'' distinctly. When you receive this, let Mr. Bovey know of it. Yours truly A. LINCOLN---

Annotation

[1]   ALS, Newberry Library, Chicago. See Lincoln's letter to Adam Adams and John Bovey, August 2, 1852, supra (II, 133-34).

To A. McKim Dubois1Jump to section

A. McKim Dubois Springfield Nov 13. 1854.

Dear Sir Our court sets on the 20th Inst. and you will be wanted as a witness in the Illinois College case.2Jump to section I merely write this to notify you will be wanted. When we fix a day we will give you more particular notice. Yours &c. A. LINCOLN.

Annotation

[1]   Copy, ISLA. Dubois was a land dealer in Carlinville, Illinois.

[2]   Gilman et al v. Hamilton et al, involving a trust for Illinois College, Jacksonville, Illinois, appealed from Sangamon County to the Supreme Court of Illinois.

To Simon Cameron1Jump to section

Hon. Sec. of War Executive Mansion
My dear Sir: July 30. 1861

In addition to those named in my note of yesterday,2Jump to section please send me nominations, as Brigadier Generals of Volunteers,3Jump to section for Ulysses S. Grant, John A. McClernand, and Benjamin M. Prentiss, of Illinois; B F. Kelly, and Frederick4Jump to section W. Lander, of Virginia;5Jump to section Joseph6Jump to section Hooker, of California; Edward D. Baker, of Oregon; Siegel, of Missouri; Rufus King, of Wisconsin,7Jump to section and Thomas W. Sherman, of the regular Army.

You perceive I have only the initials for Kelly & Lander; and no part of the christian names for Hooker & Siegel.8Jump to section Please fill these in, so far as you have the means, and leave spaces for me to find the rest, which I shall try to do.

And be sure to have the nominations reach me in time to be sent to the Senate to-day.9Jump to section Yours very truly A. LINCOLN

Annotation

[1]   ALS-F, ISLA.

[2]   Lincoln had sent to the Senate the nominations of Nathaniel P. Banks, John

A. Dix and Benjamin F. Butler to be major generals as of May 16, 1861.

[3]   ``Lt. Col. Thomas W. Sherman, 5 Art.'' has been inadvertently inserted (not in Lincoln's handwriting) at this point.

[4]   ``Rederick'' filled in (not in Lincoln's handwriting).

[5]   Lander was from Massachusetts.

[6]   ``Joseph'' filled in (not in Lincoln's handwriting).

[7]   ``Rufus King, of Wisconsin'' which Lincoln had inserted, has been crossed out.

[8]   ``Siegel'' has been crossed out.

[9]   Thomas W. Sherman, Ulysses S. Grant, John A. McClernand, Benjamin M. Prentiss, Benjamin F. Kelly, Frederick W. Lander, Joseph Hooker, Edward D. Baker, Franz Sigel and Rufus King were appointed brigadier generals of Volunteers as of May 17, 1861.

To Charles Sumner1Jump to section

Hon. Charles Sumner Executive Mansion,
My dear Sir: Washington, July 21, 1862.

Such representations are made to me as to make me feel that Mr. Holmes can not be permitted to remain as Secretary of New-Mexico. Please drop me a line. Yours very truly

A. LINCOLN.

Annotation

[1]   ALS, MH. See John Hay (for Lincoln) to William H. Seward, concerning James H. Holmes, August 2, 1862, supra, p. 497.

To Edwin M. Stanton1Jump to section

Submitted to the War Department. A. LINCOLN

Sep. 2, 1862.

Annotation

[1]   Copy, ISLA. LINCOLN's endorsement appears on a letter from Isaac N. Arnold, August 29, 1862, concurred in by Elihu B. Washburne, recommending August H. Boyden, treasurer of Cook County, Illinois, for paymaster. Boyden received the appointment.

To Joseph Holt1Jump to section

Executive Mansion
October 27, 1863

The report of the Judge Advocate is approved. Let Capt. C. L. Smith be paid the sum which is in equity due him.

A. LINCOLN.

Annotation

[1]   Copy, ISLA. LINCOLN's endorsement is on the back of a letter from Judge Advocate General Joseph Holt requesting reinstatement of Captain Charles L. Smith who had been erroneously dismissed from service.

To Samuel L. Casey1Jump to section

Hon. Samuel L. Casey Executive Mansion,
My dear Sir: Washington, Feb. 8, 1864.

Please call on the Sec. of State, and Sec. of War, in turn, and talk with them fully. I have told them you will. Yours truly

A. LINCOLN

Annotation

[1]   ALS, owned by Samuel Stager, Cadnius Book Shop, Inc., New York City. Casey replied: ``I have Recd your letter of this date and and (sic) will do as you direct.'' (DLC-RTL). With Lincoln's letter is an account by Casey's son, George F. Casey of Greenville, Illinois, May 18, 1928, contending it was Lincoln's plan to send his father to General E. Kirby Smith, CSA, at Shreveport on the Red River ``to negotiate for the disbanding of his troops, thus releasing . . . forces under Banks from guard duty'' and to purchase ``three years' crops of cotton.'' Successful in his mission, Casey left for Washington, but at Vicksburg learned of Banks' expedition up the Red River, and the ultimate destruction of the cotton by the Confederates. See Fred H. Harrington, Fighting Politician Major General N. P. Banks (1948), pp. 161-62; also Lincoln's order of December 14, 1863 and draft of order concerning Casey, February 29, 1864 (VII, 63 and 213-14, supra).

Endorsement1Jump to section

June 3, 1864

I shall be obliged if Bishop Simpson of the Methodist Episcopal Church will perform my part in the above programme.

June 3. 1864 A. LINCOLN

Annotation

[1]   AES-P, ISLA. LINCOLN's endorsement appears below a tentative program for the opening ceremonies of the Philadelphia Sanitary Fair, June 7, 1864.

Endorsement Concerning Daniel Coyle1Jump to section

December 29, 1864

If this man's Colonel will say in writing on this sheet that he is willing to receive him back to his regiment, I will discharge & send him. A. LINCOLN

Dec. 29. 1864.

Annotation

[1]   Lincoln's endorsement appears on a letter from Daniel Coyle, Company K, Fifth New York Heavy Artillery, December 26, 1864. Coyle was arrested for desertion on June 6, 1864, returned to duty during July and August, and tried by court-martial on November 21. Coyle's letter, written from Old Capitol Prison, carries no endorsement by ``this man's Colonel.''