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Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865) to Simon Cameron

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00966 Author/Creator: Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 13 June 1861 Pagination: 1 p. ; 17 x 12 cm. Order a Copy

Writes to Secretary of War Cameron to express his desire to accept a fifth regiment from Michigan. He is referring to the 16th Michigan Volunteers, under Colonel T.B.W. Stockton. Lincoln seeks Cameron's approval of this action.

Basler, Roy P. The Collected Works Of Abraham Lincoln. (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1953), Vol. IV 1860 - 1861,
p. 405

Notes: Basler 4: 405. Stockton's Sixteenth Michigan Volunteers were accepted in September and saw action at Hanover Courthouse, Gaines' Mills, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. Lincoln's "Regimentia (?) presented" has been silently emended to "Regiment presented" to conform with Basler's reading. Obliterated (erased) docket on p.4: "Executive Mansion/June 15.1861./T<he> President/Recommends [rest illegible]"

Executive Mansion
June 13. 1861
Hon. Sec. of War
My dear Sir
I think it entirely safe to accept a fifth Regiment from Michigan; and with your approbation, I should say a Regiment presented by Col. T. B. W. Stockton, ready for service within two weeks from now will be received.
Look at Col. Stockton's testimonials.
Yours truly
A. Lincoln

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865
Cameron, Simon, 1799-1889

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