Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865) [Petition for promoting Colonel Andrew Wood Denison].
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01012 Author/Creator: Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Autograph endorsement signed Date: 12 September 1864 Pagination: 3 p. 32 x 21 cm Order a Copy
Lincoln submitted this petition to Secretary of War Stanton. Fifteen prominent men from Maryland signed the petition asking that Colonel Denison be promoted to Brigadier General of Volunteers. The petition recounts Denison's service to the Union, including his recruitment Maryland soldiers and his efforts leading them in battle. Denison's contribution culminated in the loss of an arm due to being shot at the Battle of Spotsylvania, but the petition contends, he has recovered and wants to be of service to the U.S.
[Petition to Lincoln:]
His Excellency the President of the United States.
The undersigned citizens of Maryland respectfully suggest to your Excellency the Promotion of Col. Andrew Woods Denison to be Brigadier General of Volunteers.
Maryland has furnished for the army of the United States about twenty thousand men and she has but one appointment of this kind.
Col. Denison was commissioned Sept. 12th. 1862. mustered Oct 4. the interval having been spent with his regiment in front of the enemy.
By his individual efforts and personal popularity [he] was able to recruit 604 men in twenty six days when they were ordered to the fields & within thirty days from the time he got his first man was confronting the enemy at Williamsport after the Battle of Antietam. Since which time he has not been absent from the regiment a day on any kind of leave.
He was stationed a long time at Harpers Ferry and as part of the Maryland Brigade garrisoned Maryland Heights from which place they joined the Army of the Potomac about the time of the Battle of Gettysburg and were assigned to the First Corps. He has seen some service in Western Virginia in the neighborhood of Clarksburg & Romney.
[2] When the army was consolidated previous to the advance under General Grant he was assigned to command the (Maryland Brigade) 3rd Brigade 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps, which he led in the Battles of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Ably as his Division Genl. Robinson will testify, Acceptably and Bravely as all who served under him are glad and proud to say.
He is the first man who during this war has led in action a Brigade of Marylanders.
In the Battle of May 8th he was wounded by a minnie ball in the right fore arm while leading his Brigade on foot against the intrenchments of the enemy, both his horses having previously been shot under him. After turning over his command he fainted from loss of blood and was not brought off the field till toward night. After five weeks spent in the endeavor to save the arm he has been obliged to suffer amputation above the elbow.
He has been a soldier from his boyhood and on the breaking out of this rebellion was commanding a company of the City Guard. [H]e took service with the Government from purely patriotic motives and has been earnest & steadfast in the discharge [3] of all duties devolving on him. [H]e is in the prime & vigor of life and hopes soon to be able to do more service for his country.
We respectfully submit to your Excellency. [H]e has well merited the reward of Gallant Conduct.
S. F. Streeter E. Shriver
Henry H. Goldsborough H. Stockbridge
Archd. Stirling Jr Frederick Schley
Geo. W. Sand A. C. Greene
Columbus O'Donnell R. Stockett Mathews, with the request that the Presdt will generously and cordially do all that he can to secure the promotion of a Baltimorean who has lost an arm in the service.
Wm S. Reese
Wm. J. Albert Henry W. Hoffman
John Clark Hugh L. Bond
[4] [Lincoln's endorsement:]
Submitted to the Sec. of War.
A. Lincoln
Sep. 12. 1864.
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