Abraham Lincoln to Peter Hagner, 30 May 18371
If the claim, founded upon the enclosed papers, be allowed, the money may be forwarded directly to the claimant, "Archelaus Demmon, Springfield Illinois"2 If it be not allowed, on account of insufficiency of evidence, or for other cause, and the defect, whatever it be, can be remidied, write back, stating particularly what is lacking, and direct to A. Lincoln, place as above.3
The Paymaster or disbursing officer; of whom this applicant received pay was, according to recollection, Major Wright of the United States Army. In this there may be a mistake, as there is nothing but memory to refer to. At any rate it was the officer that paid Whiteside's Brigade.4
RespectfullyA. Lincoln for the Applicant.Third Auditor
[ endorsement ]
Mr H. directed the allowance of this claim
The writing appeared to I. G.[Inspector General] to be all by the same hand.

<Page 2>
Free
SPRINGFIELD Il.[Illinois]
JUN[June] 2
Treasury DepartmentThird Auditor's OfficeWashington CityD.C.
[ docketing ]
Springfield 30 May 37
A Lincoln
Recd[Received] 14
Ansd[Answered]
[ docketing ]
06/28/1837
N . . . [6?]
Archelaus Demmons
$3268/1005
28. June 1837
1Abraham Lincoln wrote the text of this letter and his signature, as well as the “Free” frank and address on the back page.
2The enclosures Lincoln mentions have not been located.
3Archelaus Demmon was seeking reimbursement for a horse he had lost during his service in the Black Hawk War.
Lincoln conducted legal research for Demmon, Martha L. Benner and Cullom Davis et al., eds., The Law Practice of Abraham Lincoln: Complete Documentary Edition, 2d edition (Springfield: Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, 2009), http://www.lawpracticeofabrahamlincoln.org/Details.aspx?case=141185.
4Robert Blackwell was the paymaster under James D. Henry in Samuel Whiteside’s Brigade.
Ellen M. Whitney, comp., The Black Hawk War, 1831-1832: Illinois Volunteers, vol. 35 of Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library (Springfield: Illinois State Historical Library, 1970), 1:201, 204-5.
5The federal government reimbursed Demmon $32.68 for his lost horse in late 1837.
Treasurer’s Accounts: Letter from the Treasurer of the United States, Transmitting Accounts for the Third and Fourth Quarters of 1837, and the First and Second Quarters of 1838, H.R. Rep. No. 28-233 (1839), 4.

Autograph Letter Signed, 2 page(s), Lincoln Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (Springfield, IL).