The Grit-advocate., 1903-02-13
FRANkED BY THE PRESIDENT.
How Two Private Soldiers Got Thsil
Letters Home

How Two Private Soldiers Got Their
Letters Home.
When the Federal army was en-
camped In Virginia. near Washington
in 1s62'63. President Lincoln franked
a letter. Let 1t Go, A. Lincoln" for a
youthful soldier named Frank King
Of Fond du Lac county, Wis, and the
envelope is still held as a sacred treas
ure by the family of the soldier lad,
who lost his life at Gettysburg. Capt.
Thomas Jones Of the Pension Office,
related the story in this way:
1T was no easy matter to get letters
home during the war of the rebellion.
Paper and envelopes were hard to get,
and stamps were almost as scarce as
diamonds. Soldiers who were fortu-
nate enough to be near Washington
had their letters franked by senators
and representatives. and you may
imagine that our lawmakers were kept
busy with their pens, President Lin
coin was even known to help the boys
out occasionally. On one occasion
Frank King, private in a Wisconsin
regiment, encamped near Arlington
Heights. got package of envelopes,
and, with a friend, Harry Dunn, went
to the White House and asked Mr..
Lincoln to frank the envelopes. 1t
was easier to see the President then
than 1t is now.
When King called, and the President
knew what was wanted. he asked,
Why don't you get your congress-
man to frank these envelopes? am
very busy, boys"
THE folks at home would like to
see your name on the envelopes, Mr..
President was the reply
Mr.. Lincoln smiled, and taking
pen, he wrote on one Of the envelopes
the foregoing order. He carefully
blotted it. and handing it to the young
man, said: Take this with the rest
of the package to your congressman,
Scott Sloan, and tell him that said to
fix them for you. If he refuses, and
don't think he will. bring them back
to me. want you boys to be brave
soldiers, and shaking the hand of King
and Dunn, he bade them good-by"
James Etter, doorkeeper in the
War department at Washington, fire.
duent!y occupied chair from which
he could not be induced to part, be-
cause it was once used by President
Lincoln, who at the time wore watch
mans badge pinned on the lapel of his
coat Mr.. Etter explained the incident
in this way: "One day | was sitting
here, when tall, angular gentleman
entered the main door and asked if the
secretary was in. l told him that it
in his office.
"'At what hour can depend on
finding him here he asked.
Il told him, and with pleasant
Thank you,' he departed
Promptly on the hour, the tall gen.
tleman ascended the steps, walked in
the door. and l was almost knocked
speechless when he asked me If I
would not go in the secretary's office
and ask him to step out into the hall.
recovered myself and told the
stranger that | could not leave my
post of duty, and even if l could
did not think the secretary would
come out and see him.
"'Oh, yes he WILL was the answer,
and as for leaving your post, I will be
personally responsible Tor that l am
Mr.. Lincoln. and I VIII simply take
your badge and keep door for you
while you deliver my message
well, l couldn't doubt him, and he
stepped up to me and unpinned my
badge. stuck it on his coat, took my
chair just like an old time watchman
and remarked, Think l can fill the
bill?'
81 said thought he could, and with
a smile playing over his face as I
walked away he said he'd keep things
straight delivered his message to
the secretary, and it was only few
minutes before he and the President
were talking together in the corridor.