LINCOLN, Abraham (1809-1865). Autograph letter signed ("A. Lincoln") as President, to Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, Washington, 20 April 1864.

One page, 200 x 125mm, Executive Mansion stationary (vertical crease, small tape repair on verso).

Lincoln requests a paymastership for a mistakenly-dismissed marshal of Alexandria, Virginia, James T. Close. He writes: "Some time ago, James T. Close, of Alexandria, Va, was removed from the Marshalship of that District, on what is now very generally believed to have been a mistake, doing great injustice to Mr. Close. But the office has been filled by another, so that he can not be restored to it. His friends now ask an Additional Pay Mastership for him; and I shall be glad for him to have it if his service therein can be made useful – Judge Underwood & Mr Chandler, of Va, fully vouch for him." Close previously served as Colonel of the 16th Regiment of Virginia Volunteer Infantry, resigning in May 1863 to accept his commission as U.S. Marshal (civilwardata.com; Alexandria Gazette, 3 June 1863).

Notably also referenced here is John Curtiss Underwood, a staunch abolitionist and early Republican, who was appointed by Lincoln to a seat on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Known for his strong condemnation of the Confederacy, it was at Underwood's court in Norfolk where a grand jury indicted Robert E. Lee and other prominent Confederates for treason (Dictionary of Virginia Biography, Library of Virginia). Not published in Basler.