President Lincoln Catches Up on Paperwork

January 14, 1864

President Lincoln writes General Benjamin F. Butler: “This will introduce Thomas Stackpole, whom I found in the White-House when I came, having been brought from New-Hampshire by Mr. Pierce. I have found him a straight, energetic man. He desires to go into some business about oysters in your vicinity; and so far as you can consistently facilitate him.”

President Lincoln writes Attorney General Edward Bates about recommendations for an federal judgeship in Indiana: “Herewith I send to be filed, the papers in regard to the Indiana Judgeship. Besides what is in the papers, Senator, Lane, Speaker Colfax, Rep. Orth Sec. Usher, Bank Com. McCullough, Mr. Defrees & others, all Indianians, verbally expressed their preference for Mr. [Albert] White.”  The death of Judge Caleb Smith had created a judicial  opening.

After meeting with Kentucky congressman, Lincoln writes an order: “To-day Hon. Brutus J. Clay calls with Mrs. Haggard, and asks that her son, Edward Haggard, now in his nineteenth year, and a prisoner of War at Camp Douglas, may be discharged. Let him take the oath of Dec. 8. and be discharged.”

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