Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 70,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World to soldiers’ letters from World War II and Vietnam. Explore primary sources, visit exhibitions in person or online, or bring your class on a field trip.

Back to Collection Search

Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865) to John Eaton

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05484 Author/Creator: Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865) Place Written: s.l. Type: Letter signed Date: 10 February 1865 Pagination: 1 p. ; 25 x 19.9 cm.

Summary of Content: Lincoln instructs Eaton, Colonel of the 63rd U.S. Colored Infantry to "continue your supervision of Freedmen over the same territory & on the same principles as in the past ... " Signed and dated by Lincoln; the remaining text is in Eaton's hand. Embossment in the upper left corner.

Background Information: Eaton served as chaplain to the Ohio Volunteer Infantry, colonel of the 63rd United States Colored Infantry Regiment, and superintendent in charge of freedmen, based on Grant's appointment.

Full Transcript: Col. Eaton:
You will continue your supervision of Freedmen over the same territory & on the same principles as in the past, making such improvements as experiences may suggest, until legislation ...shall require some farther change.
A. Lincoln
Feb. 10. 1865
See More

People: Eaton, John, 1829-1906
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Historical Era: Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861-1877

Subjects: Civil WarMilitary HistoryPresidentAfrican American TroopsAfrican American HistoryFreemenUnion ForcesConfederate States of America

Sub Era: The American Civil War

Order a Copy Citation Guidelines for Online Resources

Copyright Notice: The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.