Abraham Lincoln to Edwin L. Baker about Baker's wish to gain a higher army position - American History 1493-1945 - Adam Matthew Digital

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Field name	Value
Collection Reference Number	GLC00622
From Archive Folder	Unassociated Civil War Documents 1862
Title	Abraham Lincoln to Edwin L. Baker about Baker's wish to gain a higher army position
Date	31 March 1862
Author	Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865)
Recipient	Baker, Edwin L.
Document Type	Correspondence; Government document
Content Description	Acknowledges receipt of his note delivered by Edwin's brother John. Refuses to let "Joe" [Joseph Baker] transfer to a higher position within the army and resign his present post because of the precedent it might set among the servicemen. "The objection is the setting of examples by which every body in all arms of the service, are set to studying whether they can not squirm round into a position more satisfactory to themselves. A rule, to cut off this, is a necessity." Written on Executive Mansion stationery. The envelope is free franked in Lincoln's hand.
Subjects	Office Seeker President Civil War Military History Union Forces
People	Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865) Baker, Edwin L. (fl. 1862)
Place written	Washington, D.C.
Theme	The American Civil War; Government & Politics; The Presidency
Sub-collection	Papers and Images of the American Civil War
Additional Information	Baker was editor of the Springfield Journal. John is John F. Baker, while Joe is probably Joseph F. Baker in the Marine Corps.
Copyright	The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module	Civil War, Reconstruction and the Modern Era: 1860-1945
Transcript	Show/hide Executive Mansion, Washington, March 31, 1862. E. L. Baker, Esq. My dear Sir: Your note to Mr. Edwards, together with that from the War Department to yourself, has been handed to me by your brother John. For me to appoint "Joe" to the Army, and then let him resign his present position is what is objectionable, because it is a substantial transfer. The objection is the setting of examples by which every body in all arms of the service, are set to studying whether they can not squirm round into a position more satisfactory to themselves. A rule, to cut off this, is a necessity. Yours truly A. Lincoln [Envelope:] A. Lincoln E. L. Baker Springfield Illinois [With a postmark stamp: Washington D.C. / 31 March]

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