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61. David M. Pantier to William H. Herndon.
Petersburg Ill July 21. 1865.
Dear Sir
Understanding that you are engaged in procuring materials for a life of Mr Lincoln, I take pleasure in giving you all the information in my power.
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I was a private in Captain Lincoln's Company, which rendesvoused at Beardstown, Early in April 1832. Our forces, then under Gen Whitesides, reached the mouth of Henderson river, on the Mississippi, about the 10th of April. While in camp there a general order was issued, prohibiting the discharge of fire arms within 50 steps of the camp. Capt L. disobeyed the order by firing his pistol within ten steps of camp, and for this violation of orders was put under arrest for that day, and his sword taken from him: but the next day his sword was restored, & nothing more was done in the matter.
About the 15th of April we reached the mouth of Rock River. Three or four nights afterwards a man named Rial P. Greene, commonly called Pot Greene, belonging to a Greene County Company, came to our Company, and waked up the men, and proposed to them that if they would furnish him with a tomahawk and four buckets, he would get into the officers liquors, & supply the men with wines & brandies. The desired articles were furnished him, and with the assistance of one of our Company, he procured the liquors. All this was entirely unknown to Capt. Lincoln. In the morning, Capt L. ordered his orderly to form the company for parade. But when the orderly called the men to parade, they called "parade" too, but wouldn't fall into line. The most of the men were unmistakably drunk. The rest of the forces marched off & left Capt L's company behind. The Company didn't make a start till about 10 o'clock, and then after marching about two miles, the drunken ones laid down & slept their drunk off. They overtook the forces that night. Capt L. was again put under arrest, and was obliged to carry a wooden sword for two days. And this, although Capt L. was entirely blameless in the matter.
Wishing you success in your enterprise, I am
Yours Truly
David Pantier
Library of Congress: Herndon-Weik Collection. Manuscript Division. Library of Congress. Washington, D.C. 2253 — 55; Huntington Library: LN2408, 1:338 — 40