Description:

A MAN LOSES TWO SONS AND A NEPHEW AND WRITES PRESIDENT LINCOLN FOR A JOB
JOHN HAY (1838 - 1905) Lincoln's private secretary, Secretary of State, and a sponsor of the treaty leading to construction of the Panama Canal. A.E.S. on the verso of a letter sent to President Abraham Lincoln, 3pp. 4to., Marshall, Mich., Aug. 18,1864 by one George Woodruff, who writes, in part: "... my three boys, an adopted nephew making a fourth, were lately ... in the army of which you are the commander in chief. Three of them have fallen at their receptive posts of duty. My son George who gave his life to his country at Gettysburg, there, as the successor of Gen. Kirby commanded the celebrated Battery which contributed ... to our success at Fair Oaks, & which also under his command won distinguished praise at Antietam. My eldest son, William, of first Mich. V. Infantry whose service is imperfectly noticed in the enclosed slip [present] has recently closed the record of his sufferings & his perils at Petersburgh-- My nephew Capt. Frank G. of the 88th U.S. (Col'd) Infantry nearly at the same time fell a victim to disease contracted during his hard service with Gen. Banks ill starred Expedition up the Red River. With this for introduction, my youngest & only surviving son having just left me to return to his regt. in Missouri I cannot leave the care of my remaining family of girls, their mother being no more, to join the loyal post you have lately summon to the field. I am nevertheless ready to be made the subject of an executive act which might tend to encourage others to encounter sacrifice for the Country's sake. My own choice from professional taste & for the advantage of laboring in my vocation, would be a judicial position.... " The request is also endorsed by Michigan Congressman JOHN W. LONGYEAR together with Michigan Senators ZACHARIAH CHANDLER and JACOB M. HOWARD. On the verso, Hay notes that the request was referred by Lincoln to "... Hon, the Attorney General" above which is an unsigned endorsement possibly in the hand of Attorney General EDWARD BATES. Offered together with a manuscript petition, 3pp. 4to., Marshall, Mich., Jan 20, 1865 signed by 25 associates recommending Woodruff for a federal district judgeship. Endorsed on the verso by Lincoln's other personal secretary JOHN NICHOLAY referring the petition on to the Attorney General at the request of the President. Ex Harold C. Brooks Collection. Usual folds, else very good to fine condition. Together, two pieces.

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December 9, 2011 11:00 AM EST
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