James L. Edwards to Abraham Lincoln, 28 March 18491
Pension OfficeMarch 28th/49.Sir
In reply to your letter of the 6th inst. I have the honor to inform you, that the claims of Elizabeth M. Rice, Polly, Crawford, and Aletha R. Clem, will be acted upon immediately, and notifications of their allowance will be sent
to Robert E. Yost, Benton, Franklin County, Illinois.2
I have the Honor to beVery Respectfully
Your Obedt Servt[Obedient Servant]J L Edwards
Commissr[Commissioner] of PensionsHon. A LincolnM. C.[Member of Congress] SpringfieldIllinois
2Abraham Lincoln’s letter has not been located.
Elizabeth M. Rice, Polly Crawford, and Aletha R. Clem were the widows of James Rice,
Joel S. Crawford, and Jessie R. Clem, who all served as privates in Company K, Second
Illinois Foot Volunteers, during the Mexican War. Each man died at Tampico, Mexico, while on active duty.
Isaac H. Elliott, Record of the Services of Illinois Soldiers in the Black Hawk War, 1831-32, and in
the Mexican War, 1846-8 (Springfield, IL: H. W. Rokker, 1882), 244, 264-65.
Handwritten Letter Signed, 1 page(s),
Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress (Washington, DC).