Civil War-dated handwritten endorsement signed as president, "Respectfully submitted to the War Department. A. Lincoln, Feb 26, 1862," on the reverse of a letter sent to the president by William F. Johnston, the former governor of Pennsylvania, two pages, 8 x 10, January 17, 1862. The letter reads, in part: “Permit me to request the appointment to a Captaincy in the Army of a most estimable & highly accomplished young gentleman. Mr. William McCandlass of this city is desirous of entering the Military Service of the country. I assure yr. Excellency that Mr. McC is…sober, industrious and intelligent. Served in the Volunteers for 3 months and a few years ago, past some time at the Naval School at Annapolis. I am reluctant to intrude on your valuable time, but…I have not doubt your S’cy of War, Hon. Mr. Stanton, will permit me to refer to him.” In fine condition. Although unconfirmed, it seems probable that the soldier in question was William Graham McCandless (1838-1909), the husband of Elizabeth Freame Johnston McCandless, who was the daughter of Governor William F. Johnston.
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