Executive Mansion,
Washington, D. C.
September 19th, 1864.
Major General
Sherman
The State election
of Indiana occurs on the 11th of October, and the loss of it to the friends of
the Government would go far towards losing the whole Union cause. The bad
effect upon the November election, and especially the giving the State
Government to those who will oppose the war in every possible way, are too much
to risk, if it can possibly be avoided. The draft proceeds, notwithstanding its
strong tendency to lose us the State. Indiana is the only important State,
voting in October, whose soldiers cannot vote in the field. Any thing you can
safely do to let her soldiers, or any part of them, go home and vote at the
State election, will be greatly in point. They need not remain for the
Presidential election, but may return to you at once. This is, in no sense, an
order, but is merely intended to impress you with the importance, to the army
itself, of your doing all you safely can, yourself being the judge of what you
can safely do.
Yours truly
A. Lincoln
SOURCE: The Abraham Lincoln
Papers at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
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