Books and Manuscripts

Lincoln, Abraham
Signed Military Commission
Washington, D.C., March 10, 1863. Partially-printed military commission on vellum, signed by Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, appointing W(illiam). M(cKendree). Vogleson “Commissary of Subsistence of Volunteers, with the rank of Captain”; counter-signed by Edwin Stanton as Secretary of War; manuscript in top left by Assistant Adjutant General registering the document. Blue paper seal in top left; creasing from contemporary folds; slight fading to Stanton and Lincolns signatures. 

A handsome military commission signed by President Abraham Lincoln, appointing William McKendree Vogleson (1831-93) of Ohio to the position of Captain in the Commissary of Subsistence department. Vogleson was assigned to General McArthur, and served with distinction in Memphis, Vicksburg, Louisiana, and St. Louis. Later, at the 24th reunion of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, Vogleson's paper on the history of the Commissary department and his experience during the war was read before the Society by General Andrew Hickenlooper. Vogleson's speech finished with the following, “I know, Mr. President and comrades, this must be dull and uninteresting to you who led detachments, regiments, brigades, divisions, corps and armies to charges, battles and glorious victories, all honor to you for the patriotic valor which inspired you to such deeds of heroism for your beloved flag and country. But, Mr. President and comrades, may I ask you, what would you have accomplished, and how long would you have existed as an army, without the subsistence department and its hard worked, industrious commissaries? For an army, first the man, then his subsistence at once and daily thereafter. And now, Mr. President, if there is any question on this matter, please detail some one to read an article and show us how you would have accomplished anything without your commissaries of subsistence.”