A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, January 9, 1865.
Officer in Command at Saint Joseph, Mo.:
Postpone the execution of the death sentence of Holland, High-
smith, and Utz, ten days longer unless you receive orders from me
to the contrary. A. Lincoln.
Major Eckert:
Please send the above telegram, Jno. G. Nicolay.
War Department,
Washington, D. C, January 11, 1865.
Officer in Command at Nashville, Tenn. :
Postpone the execution of S. W. Elliott, and C E. Peacher, until
the 3rd day of February, 1865. A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, January 12, 1865.
Officer in Command at Lexington, Ky. :
Suspend execution of sentence of death in case of Solomon
Spiegel, Ninth Michigan Cavalry, until further orders and for-
ward record of trial for examination. A. Lincoln.
Major Eckert:
Please send the above telegram, Jno. G. Nicolay.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, January 12, 1865.
Lieutenant-General Grant, City Point, Va.:
If Henry Stork of Fifth Pennsylvania Cavalry, has been con-
victed of desertion, and is not yet executed, please stay till further
order and send record. A. Lincoln.
(16)
242 LIFE OF LINCOLN
Executive Mansion,
Washington, January 19, 1865.
Major-General Dodge, Saint Louis, Mo.:
If Mrs. Beattie, alias Mrs. Wolff, shall be sentenced to death,
notify me, and postpone execution till further order.
A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, January 19, 1865.
Major-General Ord:
You have a man in arrest for desertion passing by the name of
Stanley. William Stanley, I think, but whose real name is dif-
ferent. He is the son of so close a friend of mine that I must
not let him be executed. Please let me know what is his present
and prospective condition. A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, January 20, 1865.
Major-General Dix, New York:
Let W. N. Bilbo be discharged on his parole. A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, January 20, 1865.
Lieutenant-General Grant, City Point, Va.:
If Thomas Samplogh, of the First Delaware Regiment has been
sentenced to death, and is not yet executed, suspend and report the
case to me. A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, January 21, 1865.
Major-General Wallace, Baltimore, Md. :
Two weeks or ten days ago, as I remember, I gave direction for
Levin L. Waters to be either tried at once or discharged. If he
has not been tried, nor a trial of him progressing in good faith
discharge him at once. A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, January 22, 1865.
Major-General Wallace, Baltimore, Md. :
The case of Waters being as you state it, in your dispatch of to-
day, of course the trial will proceed. A. Lincoln.
APPENDIX
War Department,
Washington, D. C, January 23, 1865.
W. O. Bartlett, Esq., New York:
Please come and see me at once. A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, January 24, 1865.
Lieutenant-General Grant, City Point:
If Newell W. Root, of First Connecticut Heavy Artillery, is
under sentence of death please telegraph me briefly the circum-
stances. A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, January 25, 1865.
Officer in Command at Nashville, Tenn.:
Do not allow Elliott, under sentence of death to be exe-
cuted without further order from me, and if an exchange of him
for Capt. S. T. Harris, now a prisoner, supposed to be at Columbia,
S. C, can be effected, let it be done. A. Lincoln.
War Department,
Washington, D. C, January 25, 1865.
Lieutenant-General Grant, City Point, Va. :
Having received the report in the case of Newell W. Root, I do
not interfere further in the case. A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, January 26, 1865.
Lieutenant-General Grant :
Suspend execution of death sentence of William H. Jeffs, Com-
pany B, Fifty-sixth Massachusetts Volunteers, until further or-
ders, and forward record of trial for examination.
A. Lincoln.
Major Eckert:
Please send the above telegram. Jno. G. Nicolay,
Private Secretary.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, January 26, 1865.
Lieuten ant-General Grant :
Suspend execution of Hamel Shaffer ordered to be shot at City
PrttYit to-morrow, until further orders and forward record of trial
for examination. A. Lincoln.
244 LIFE OF LINCOLN
Major Eckert:
Please send the above telegram. Jno. G. Nicolay.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, January 27, 1865.
Lieutenant-General Grant:
Stay execution in case of Barney Roorke, Fifteenth New York
Engineers, until record can be examined here. A. Lincoln.
Send above dispatch and oblige. John Hay,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, January 27, 1865.
To the Commanding Officer at Nashville, Tenn. :
Let execution in case of Cornelius E. Peacher, be stayed until
further orders. A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, January 28, 1865.
Major-General Ord, Army of the James:
Give me a brief report in case of Charles Love, Seventh New
Hampshire, tried for desertion, and transmit record for my ex-
amination. A. Lincoln.
(Cypher) War Department,
Washington, D. C, January 30, 1865.
Major-General Ord, Headquarters Army of the James :
By direction of the President you are instructed to inform the
three gentlemen, Messrs. Stephens, Hunter, and Campbell, that
a messenger will be dispatched to them at or near where they
now are, without unnecessary delay. Edwin M. Stanton,
Secretary of War.
(This letter does appear in the Life by J. G. Nicolay and John
Hay.)
War Department,
Washington, D. C, January 31, 1865.
Major-General Wallace, Baltimore, Md. :
Suspend sending off of Charles E. Waters, until further order
and eend record if it has not already been sent.
A. Lincoln.
APPENDIX 245
Executive Mansion-,
Washington, January 31, 1865.
Major-General Wallace, Baltimore, Md. :
Your second dispatch in regard to Waters is received. The
President's dispatch of this morning did not refer to Levin T,
Waters, but to a man who it was represented had been convicted
by a military commission of unlawful trade with the rebels or
something of that kind, and was to be sent this morning to the
Albany Penitentiary. His name was given as Charles E. Waters.
If such prisoner is on his way North let him be brought back and
held as directed in the President's dispatch.
Jno. G. Nicolay,
Private Secretary.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, January 31, 1865.
Officer in Command at Philadelphia, Pa. :
Suspend execution of death sentence of John Murphy, ordered
for February 10, 1865, at Fort Mifflin, until further orders and for-
ward record of trial for examination. A. Lincoln.
Major Eckert:
Please forward above telegram. Jno. G. Nicolay,
Private Secretary.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, February 1, 1865.
General Shepley, Norfolk, Va. :
It is said that Henry W. Young, private in Sixty-third New
York Volunteers, Company E, is in arrest for desertion. If he
shall be tried and sentenced to any punishment, do not let sentence
be executed until further order from me, meantime send me
record of the trial. A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, February 2, 1865.
Officer in Command at Frankfort, Ky. :
Suspend execution of death sentence of W. E. Walker until
further orders, and forward record of trial for examination.
A. Lincoln.
Major Eckert:
Please send the above telegram. Jno. G. Nicolay,
Private Secretary.
246 LIFE OF LINCOLN
Executive Mansion
Washington, February 4, 1865.
Officer in Command at Nashville, Term. :
Suspend execution of death sentence of James R. Mallory, until
further orders. A. Lincoln.
Please send the above telegram. Jno. G. Nicolay.
War Department,
Washington, D. C, February 6, 1865.
Frederick Hassaurek, Cincinnati, Ohio:
A dispatch from General Grant says " Lieutenant Markbeit has
been released from prison and is now on his way North."
A. Lincoln.
To Lieutenant-General Grant, Headquarters Armies of the
United States :
Suspend execution in case of Simon J. Schaffer, Fifteenth New
York Engineers, until further orders, and send me the record.
A. Lincoln.
Send above. Jno. G. Nicolay,
Private Secretary.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, February 7, 1865.
Officer in Command at Davenport, Iowa:
Suspend execution of death sentence of John Davis, alias John
Lewis, until further orders and forward record of trial for exam-
ination. A. Lincoln.
Major Eckert:
Please send the above telegram. Jno. G. Nicolay.
Executive Mansion,
— Washington, February 8, 1865.
Mark Hoyt, Esq., 28 Spruce Street, New York:
The President has received your dispatch asking an interview
He cannot appoint any specific day or hour, but your delegation
may come at their own convenience and he will see them as soon
as he possibly can after their arrival. Jno. G. Nicolay,
Private Secretary.
APPENDIX 247
Executive Mansion,
WASHINGTON, Februury 9, 1665.
Major-General Cadwallader, Philadelphia:
Please suspend execution in case of Thomas Adams, One hun-
dred and eighty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and send record
to me. A. Lincoln.
Major Eckert:
Please send above telegram. Jno. G. Nioolay.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, Pebruary 9, 1865.
Commanding-General Sixth Army Corps:
Suspend the execution of the sentence of Private James L.
Hycks, Sixty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, until further
orders. A. Lincoln.
Major Eckert:
The President requests that you will send the above. The man
was to have been executed on 10th instant.
Ed. D. Neill,
Secretary to President, United States, &c.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, February 9, 1865.
Lieutenant-General Grant :
Suspend execution of death sentence of Hugh F. Riley, Eleventh
Massachusetts Volunteers, now in front of Petersburg, until fur-
ther orders, and forward record for examination.
A. Lincoln.
Major Eckert:
Please send above telegram. Jno. G. Nicolay.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, February 9, 1865.
His Excellency John A. Andrew, Governor of Massachusetts,
Boston, Mass. :
The President has to-day sent a dispatch ordering that the exe-
cution of Hugh F. Riley, Eleventh Massachusetts Volunteers, be
suspended until further orders and the record forwarded for ex-
amination. Jno. G. Nicolay,
Private Secretary.
248 LIFE OF LINCOLN
Executive Mansion,
Washington, February 11, 1865.
Major-General Ord, Army of James:
Suspend execution of sentence in case of Maj. T. C. Jameson
and send me the record. A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, February 11, 1865.
Col. P. B. Hawkins, Frankfort, Ky. :
General Burbridge may discbarge W. E. Waller, if he thinks fit.
A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, February 12, 1865.
Major-General Hooker, Cincinnati, Ohio:
Is it Lieut. Samuel B. Davis whose death sentence is com-
muted? If not done, let it be done. Is there not an associate of
his also in trouble ? Please answer. A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, February 13, 1865.
Major-General Sheridan:
Suspend execution of sentence in case of James Lynch, alias
Hennessy, until further orders and send record to me. Please ac-
knowledge receipt of this. A. Lincoln.
Major Eckert:
Please send above telegram. Jno. G.. Nicolay.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, February 14, 1865.
To the Commanding Officer, Davenport, Iowa:
Suspend execution of death sentence of John C. Brown, alias
William A. Craven, and of John Ble, alias Cohoe, until further
orders and send records for examination. A. Lincoln.
Major Eckert:
Please send the above dispatch. Jno. G. Nicolay,
Private Secretary
APPENDIX 249
Executive Mansion,
Washington, February 14, 1865.
Major-General Sheridan:
Suspend execution of death sentence of James Brown, fixed for
the 17th instant at Harper's Ferry, until further orders, and for-
ward record for examination. A. Lincoln.
Major Eckert:
Please send above telegram. Jno. G. Nicolay.
Washington, February 15, 1865.
Major-General Sheridan :
Suspend execution in case of Luther T. Palmer, Fifth New
York Artillery, for fourteen days and send record to me for ex-
amination. A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, February 15, 1865.
Major-General Sheridan :
Suspend execution of death sentence of William Randall, at
Harper's Ferry, of Fifth New York Heavy Artillery, until further
orders and forward record of trial for examination.
A. Lincoln.
Major Eckert:
Please send the above telegram. Jno. G. Nicolay.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, February 16, 1865.
Lieuten ant-General Grant:
Suspend execution of death sentence of George W. Brown, Com-
pany A, Fifteenth New York Engineers, now at City Point, until
further orders and forward record for examination.
A. Lincoln.
Major Eckert:
Please send the above telegram. Jno. G. Nicolay.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, February 16, 1865.
Lieutenant-General Grant :
Suspend execution of death sentence of Charles Love, Seventh
New Hampshire Volunteers, at City Point, until further orders and
forward record for examination. A. Lincoln.
Major Eckert:
Please send the above telegram. Jno. G. Niooi.av.
250 LIFE OF LINCOLN
Executive Mansion,
Washington, February 17, 1865.
Officer in Command at Davenport, Iowa:
Suspend execution of death sentence of William A. Craven, for
four weeks and forward record for examination. A. Lincoln.
Major Eckert:
Please send above telegram. Jno. G. Nicolay.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, February 17, 1865.
Officer in Command at Harper's Ferry:
Chaplain Fitzgibbon yesterday sent me a dispatch invoking
clemency for Jackson, Stewart and Randall, who are to be shot
to-day. The dispatch is so vague that there is no means here of
ascertaining whether or not the execution of sentence of one or
more of them may not already have been ordered. If not suspend
execution of sentence in their cases until further orders and for-
ward records of trials for examination. A. Lincoln.
Major Eckert:
Please send above telegram. Jno. G. Nicolay.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, February 20, 1865.
Officer in Command at Davenport, Iowa :
Suspend execution of Henry Cole, alias Henry Coho, until fur-
ther order and send record. A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, February 22, 1865.
Officer in Command at Lexington, Ky. :
Send forthwith record of the trial of C. K. Johnson.
A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, February 23, 1865.
Lieutenant-General Grant :
Suspend execution of death sentence of George A. Maynard,
Company A, Forty-sixth New York Veteran Volunteers, until
further orders and forward record for examination.
,, ^ A. Lincoln.
Major Eckert:
Please send the above telegram. Jno. G. Nicolay,
Private Secretary.
APPENDIX 251
Executive Mansion,
Washington, February 24, 1865.
Major-General Pope, Saint Louis, Mo.:
Please inquire and report to me whether there is any propriety
of longer keeping in Gratiott Street Prison a man said to be
there by the name of Riley Whiting. A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, February 28, 1865.
Commanding Officer, ITarper's Ferry, Va.:
Let the sentence in case of Luther T. Palmer be suspended till
further order. A. Lincoln.
(Cypher) War Department.
Washington, D. C, March 6, 1865
Hon. David Tod, Cleveland, Ohio:
I have yours about Grannis, and am compelled to say there is a
complication in the way. A. Lincoln.
War Department,
Washington, D. O, March 9, 1865.
W. O. Bartlett, Philadelphia (probably at Continental) :
It will soon be too late if you are not here. A. Lincoln.
Washington, March 13, 1865.
Hon. Henry T. Blow, Saint Louis, Mo.:
A Miss E. Snodgrass, who was banished from Saint Louis in
May, 1863, wishes to take the oath and return home. What say
you? A. Lincoln.
Executfv'E Mansion,
Washington, March 16, 1865.
Major-General Ord:
Suspend execution of Lieut. Henry A. Meek, of First U. S. Col-
ored Cavalry, until further order from here. Answer.
A. Lincoln.
War Department,
Washington, D. O, March 17, 1865.
Col. R. M. Hough and Others, Chicago, HI.:
Yours received. The best I can do with it is to refer it to the
War Department. The Rock Island case referred to, was my
LIFE OF LINCOLN
individual enterprise, and it caused so much difficulty in so many
ways that I promised to never undertake another.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, May [March] 20, 1865.
Major-General Ord, Army of the James:
Is it true that George W. Lane is detained at Norfolk without
any charge against him ? And if so why is it done ?
A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, March 23, 1865.
General Dodge, Commanding, &c, Saint Louis, Mo.:
Allow Mrs. E. S. Ewell the benefit of my amnesty proclamation
on her taking the oath. A. Lincoln.
(Cypher) Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
March 25, 1865. (Eeceived 5 p. m.)
Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War:
I am here within five miles of the scene of this morning's action.
I have nothing to add to what General Meade reports except that
I have seen the prisoners myself and they look like there might
be the number he states— 1,600. A. Lincoln.
City Point, Va., March 26, 1865. (Eeceived 11.30 a. m.)
Hon. Secretary of War:
I approve your Fort Sumter programme. Grant don't seem to
know Yeatman very well, but thinks very well of him so far as
he knows. Thinks it probable that Y. is here now, for the place.
I told you this yesterday as well as that you should do as you
think best about Mr. Whiting's resignation, but 1 suppose you
did not receive the dispatch. I am on the boat and have no later
war news than went to you last night. A. Lincoln.
City Point, Va., March 30, 1865—7.30 p. m.
(Eeceived 8.30 p. m.)
Hon. Secretary of War:
I begin to feel that I ought to be at home and yet I dislike
to leave without seeing nearer to the end of General Grant's pres-
ent movement. He has now been out since yesterday morning
and although he has not been divested from his programme no
considerable effort has yet been produced so far as we know here.
Last night at 10.15 p. m. when it was dark as a rainy night with-
APPENDIX 253
©ut a moon could be, a furious cannonade soon joined in by a
heavy musketry tire opened near Petersburg and lasted about two
hours. The sound was very distinct here as also were the flashes
of the guns up the clouds. It seemed to me a great battle, but
the older hands here scarcely noticed it and sure enough this morn-
ing it was found that very little had been done. A. Lincoln.
(Cypher) City Point, Va., April 1, 1865—5.30 p. m.
(Received 8.30 p. m.)
Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War:
Dispatch just received showing that Sheridan, aided by War-
ren had at 2 p. m. pushed the enemy back so as to retake the five
forks and bring his own headquarters up to I. Boisseans. The
five forks were barricaded by the enemy and carried by Diven'a
division of cavalry. This part of the enemy seems to now be
trying to work along the White Oak road to join the main force
in front of Grant, while Sheridan and Warren are pressing them
as closely as possible. A. Lincoln.
City Point, Va., April 2, 1865.
Mrs. Lincoln:
At 4.30 p. m. to-day General Grant telegraphs that he has Peters-
burg completely enveloped from river below to river above, and
has captured since he started last Wednesday, about 12,000 pris-
oners and 50 guns. He suggests that I shall go out and see him in
the morning, which I think I will do. Tad and I are both well,
and will be glad to see you and your party here at the time you
name. A. Lincoln.
(Cypher) City Point, Va., April 3, 1865—5 p. m.
(Received 7 p. m.)
Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War :
Yours received. Thanks for your caution, but I have already
been to Petersburg, stayed with General Grant an hour and a half
and returned here. It is certain now that Richmond is in our
hands, and I think I will go there to-morrow. I will take care of
myself. A. Lincoln.
(Cypher) City Point, Va., April 4, 1865—8 a. m.
(Received 8.45 a. m.)
Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War:
General Weitzel telegraphs from Richmond that of railroad
stock he found there, 28 locomotives, 44 passenger and baggage
cars, and 106 freight cars. At 3.30 this evening General Grant from
Southerland Station, 10 miles from Petersburg toward Burkes-
rille telegraphs as follows :
254 LIFE OF LINCOLN
" General Sheridan picked up 1,200 prisoners to-day and from
300 to 500 more have been gathered by other troops. The majority
of the arms that were left in the hands of the remnant of Lee's
army are now scattered between Eichmond and where his troops
are. The country is also full of stragglers, the line of retreat
marked with artillery, ammunition burned or charred wagons, cais-
sons, ambulances, &c." A. Lincoln.
City Point, Va., April 5, 1865. (Keceived 11 : 55 p. m.)
Hon. Secretary of State:
Yours of to-day received. I think there is no probability of
my remaining here more than two days longer. If that is too long
come down. I passed last night at Richmond and have just re-
turned. A. Lincoln.
City Point, Va., April 7, 1865—8.35 a. m.
(Received 10.30 a. m.)
Hon. Secretary of War:
At 11.15 p. m. yesterday at Burkesville Station, General Grant
Bends me the following from General Sheridan:
" April 6—11.15 p. m.
" Lieutenant-General Grant :
" I have the honor to report that the enemy made a stand at the
intersection of the Burks Station road with the road upon which
they were retreating. I attacked them with two divisions of the
Sixth Army Corps and routed them handsomely, making a connec-
tion with the cavalry I am still pressing on with both cavalry and
infantry. Up to the present time we have captured Generals Ewell,
Kershaw, Button, Corse, De Bare, and Custus Lee, several thou-
sand prisoners, 14 pieces of artillery with caissons and a large
number of wagons. If the thing is pressed I think Lee will sur-
render. " P. H. Sheridan,
" Major-General, Commanding."
A. Lincoln.
City Point, April 7, 1865 — 9 a. m.
(Received 10:30 a. m.)
Hon. Secretary of War:
The following further just received:
"Burkesville, Va.
" A. Lincoln :
" The following telegrams respectfully forwarded for your in-
formation: "U. S. Grant,
" Lieutenant-General."
APPENDIX 255
" Second Army Coups, April 6 — 7.30 p. m.
"Maj.-Gen. A. S. Webb:
"Our last fight jusl before dark at Sailor's Creek gave us 2
guns, 3 flags, considerable numbers of prisoners, 200 wagons, 70
ambulances with mules and horses to about one-half the wagons
and ambulances. There are between 30 and 50 wagons in addition
abandoned and destroyed along the road, some battery wagons,
forages, and limbers. I ha\ idy reported to you the capture
of 1 gun, 2 flags and some pris >ners, and the fact that the road for
over 2 miles is strewed with tents, baggage, cooking utensils, some
ammunition, some material < f all kinds, the wagons across the
approach to the bridges it w 11 take some time to clear it. The
enemy is in position on the heights beyond with artillery. The
bridge partially destroyed and the approaches on other side are
of soft bottom land. We ca mot advance to-morrow in the same
manner we have to-day. At soon as I get my troops up a little,
we are considerably mixed, 1 might push a column down the road
and deploy it but it is evident that I cannot follow rapidly during
the night. "A. A. Humphreys,
" Major-General."
A. Lincoln.
Head Quarters Armies of the United States,
Citz Point, April 7, 11 a. m., 1865.
Lieutenant-General Grant :
Gen. Sheridan says " If the thing is pressed I think that Lee will
surrender." Let the thing be pressed. A. Lincoln.
(Original owned by C. F. Gunther of Chicago, 111.)
Executive Mansion,
Washington, April 11, 1865.
Brio. Gen. G. H. Gordon, Norfolk, Va.:
Send to me at once a full statement as to the cause or causes
for which, and by au hority of what tribunal, George W. Lane,
Charles Whitlock, Ezra Baker, J. M. Renshaw, and others are
restrained of their liberty. Do this promptly and fully.
A. Lincoln.
INDEX
INDEX
A Arsenal, supplies of, iii, 44.
Ashburn resolution, ii, 8.
Abraham Lincoln, Ode for the Ashmun, George, ii, 143, 153; iii,
Burial of, iv, 52. 43; iv, 36.
: ' Abraham. Father," iii, 169. Atkinson, Gen., i, 75, 81-84.
Adams, Mr., iii, 25. Atwood, of Philadelphia, ii, 167.
Adams, Gen. James, i, 155-157.
Adams, John Quincy, ii, 1.
Address to Border States repre- B
sentatives, iii, ill.
Address, first inaugural, iii, 6-12. Bad Ax, battle of, i, 90.
— opinions of the press, iii, 12, 13. Bailhache, Wm. H., Major, ii, 197.
— second inaugural, iv, 17, 18. Baker, Edward D., Col., i, 133, 158,
Administration, embarrassment of, 166.
iii, 44. — nominated for Congress against