Civil War-dated autograph endorsement signed as president, "Submitted to the Secretary of War, A. Lincoln, Nov. 7, 1863," the reverse of a 7.75 x 9.75 application by which James Thompson, Capt. 2d Artillery, requests promotion or permission to remain in Kentucky to recruit batteries of artillery. The letter details Capt. Thompson's resume and service in the Civil War, in part: "Graduated at West Point in 1851, 6th in class…Was on duty on Texas frontier when Rebellion broke out. Went with expedition under Col. Brown to Fort Pickens, returned in time to take part in first battle of Bull Run." He goes on to outline his Civil War battle history—naming the fights at Fair Oaks, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, and Chickamauga, amongst others—and make his demand: "Am an educated military man in the prime of life…mortified to see so many comrades promoted whom I have surpassed in estimation of all my friends, my own officers nominated for brevet promotion in battles on 30th June & 1st July '62 when I commanded…Desire promotion, or permission to remain in Kentucky & recruit regiment of artillery." In very good to fine condition, with slight edge chipping, and light toning from prior display. Accompanied by an unsigned portrait of Lincoln.
According to Cullum's Register, Thompson would remain in Kentucky to work on organizing an artillery regiment until April 18, 1864. He would then take on mustering and disbursing duty at Louisville, Cincinnati, and San Francisco through 1865. He was promoted to Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel on March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services at the Battle of Chickamauga. Retiring from service in 1869, he went on to serve as a professor of military science at Indiana State University. He was also the father of John T. Thompson, the inventor of the Thompson submachine gun—commonly known as the 'Tommy gun.'
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