Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865) [Lincoln endorsement for release of Union prisoner of war]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02805 Author/Creator: Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Autograph endorsement signed Date: 15 June 1864 Pagination: 1, 3 p. ; 26 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
Written on verso of a 28 April 1864 autograph letter signed from Missouri Representative Austin King. King seeks release for E. M. Brashear of Lafayette County, Missouri. Writes " While I know but little of this youth, I know his relations to be among the most respectable of my district. … I ask of you Mr President the discharge of Brashear, and I have such confidence in his sense of honor, and of the same in his relatives & friends who wish his discharge, that I feel that I risk nothing in vouching for his future fidelity to the Government." Lincoln orders that this man be allowed to take the oath of 8 December 1863 and released.
Washington
28 Apl 1864.
To President Lincoln.
I beg to lay before you the case of E. M. Brashear, a young man of Lafayette County Mo. and now a prisoner of War. While I know but little of of [sic] this youth, I know his relations to be among the most respectable of my district. Capn. J. Kirtley, his brother-in law, is a most loyal & respectable citizen, and is in the Service of the Union cause in the military of Mo., and is interesting himself on behalf of said Brashear. The circumstances of the arrest or surrender of Brashear are about [illegible], as personally known to me.
First, about last October, when Shelby made his raid into Mo., Brashear was with him, before the rebellion Shelby & Brashear resided near Waverly in Lafayette Co. & in the raid, he came into the vicinity of [2] of [sic] Waverly, the residence of said Brashear, & while there Brashear & two others, by his influence, left Shelby and went to the House of Capt. Kirtley his brother-in-law & there said to Kirtley & his sister, that it was his wish to quit the Confederate service, & they advised him to cross the Missouri river & go out to Carrollton about 15 miles to a military post and surrender himself with the assurance of his friends & relatives that if he did, that there was a military order to the effect that those who thus voluntarily surrendered would be allowed to take the oath & [inserted above: allowed] to remain at home. Brashear went to Carrollton, with his two comrades, & surrendered to Col. Hale the officer there in command, & his letter is on file with the Commissary Genl of prisoners. The two who surrendered with Brashear were allowed to take the oath & were discharged. Brashear was not discharged, for the alleged reason [3] that Brashear had been a Capt in the Confederate service, but in fact, as I understand his case, he was not such at the time of his surrender.
I ask of you Mr President the discharge of Brashear, and I have such confidence in his sense of honor, and of the same in his relatives & friends who wish his discharge, that I feel that I risk nothing in vouching for his future fidelity to the Government.
Austin A. King
H of Reps
[4] [Lincoln's endorsement:]
Let this man take the oath of Dec. 8, [struck: 1864] 1863, and be discharged
A. Lincoln
June 18. 1864
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