Abraham Lincoln Commissioning the Assistant Surgeon of Volunteers

This commission is part of Carl Sandburg's extensive collection of Civil War materials. When Sandburg started researching Lincoln, the Civil War was relatively recent history. Sandburg was able to collect many Civil War items related to Lincoln.

This certificate includes Lincoln's signature. It is a commission for Herman Lowenthal to Assistant Surgeon of Volunteers, dated April 23, 1864. It states: "To all who shall see these presents greeting: Know ye, that reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity, and abilities of Herman Lowenthal I have nominated, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint him Assistant Surgeon of Volunteers in the service of the United States: to rank as such from the twentieth day of April eighteen hundred and sixty four. He is therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of Assistant Surgeon by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging. And I do strictly charge, and require all officers and soldiers under his command, to be obedient to his orders as Assistant Surgeon. And he is to observe and follow such orders, and directions, from time to time, as he shall receive from me, or the future President of the United States of America, or the General or other superior officers set over him, according to the rules and discipline of war. This Commission is to continue in force during the pleasure of the President of the United States for the time being. Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, this twenty third of April in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and sixty four in the eighty eighth year of the Independence of the United States." (signed) Abraham Lincoln (signed) E.M. Stanton Secretary of War