THE WIT AND WISDOM OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, PART I: Lincoln's substitute

» FortBrooke1824 - Lincoln's substitute

I enjoyed the article John. Some while back we talked about Lincoln having a substitute. I could not place the name however i have since then and thought this would be as good as any to tell you about it. I first read about it in the magazine Civil War Times many years ago. This story should be fairly easy to confirm. Mr. Norton who wrote the book "campaigns with Grant" makes note of it on page 338. There are also several other creditable sources. In short this is what i can tell you. Lincoln directed one Noble D. Larner to secure him (Lincoln) a substitute. Mr. Larner found one John Summerfield Staples. Both Larner and Staples went to the White House to meet Lincoln. After shaking Staples hand (who was just 19) Lincoln gave him $60.00 to fill his void in the war. Lincoln wished him good luck and kept a close note of him during the war. He enlisted as Private John Staples in Company H 2nd District of Columbia regiment. It is interesting to note that Staples father was a chaplain in the same regiment. Private Staples had a good war record and came out of the war unhurt. To read more about him Mug you can enter google and the words "Lincoln's substitute" the first one is the one you want to go to.

-- posted by FortBrooke1824