President Abraham Lincoln, Showing Extraordinary Leniency and Compassion, Pardons One of Morgan’s Marauders Who Terrorized the North in 1863, the Only We Can Find Having Reached the Market

We have found no other such pardon for one of Morgan’s marauders having been offered for sale

 

Reference for research, publication, and institutions: Raab L13.112

From July 13-26, 1863, Confederate Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan led a daring group of more than 2,000 men across Southern Ohio in a brave and famous exploit. His mission: to distract and divert as many Union troops as possible from the action in Middle Tennessee and East Tennessee. He initially fulfilled his purpose, and Union troops under the command of Major General Ambrose Burnside gave chase. Although Burnside was ultimately successful, ending Morgan’s raid was a much harder job than anyone anticipated. Morgan covered 557 miles through nineteen counties and battled with Union forces at Buffington Island. Back against the wall, Morgan made a desperate escape, but was finally captured, along with some of his men. During his raid, Morgan and his men captured and paroled about 6,000 Union soldiers and militia, destroyed 34 bridges, disrupted the railroads at more than 60 places, and diverted tens of thousands of troops from other duties. He spread terror throughout the region, and seized thousands of dollars worth of supplies, food, and other items from local stores, houses, and farms.

One member of Morgan’s invading force was the young Charles E. Wasson of the 5th Kentucky Cavalry. He escaped to Canada, but came back to Ohio, perhaps to head South. He was ultimately captured. Beginning in late August 1863, Confederate prisoners in the region were taken to McLean Barracks in Cincinnati, a newly established military prison, and that’s where Wasson was confined.

A letter of Joseph Wasson addressed to President Lincoln tells the story of Charles, who was the writer’s grandson. Dated January 18, 1865, from Lexington Kentucky, Wasson relates: “My grandson Charley E. Wasson, when under sixteen years of age, joined the forces of the Rebel General Kirby Smith when they invaded Kentucky and went West with them. He was with John Morgan when Ohio was invaded and was captured and sent to prison. He escaped from prison and went to Canada. From Canada he came to Cincinnati and was arrested, and is now in McLean Barracks. He is a good boy, but unfortunately has been led astray by wicked associations. He is very repentant and anxious to take the Amnesty Oath and return to allegiance to his old flag. He is prepared to give good security. Your leniency in his case is most respectfully solicited.”

This application was initially sent to William Cassius Goodloe, who in 1861 served as private secretary to his uncle, Cassius M. Clay, who was U.S. Ambassador to Russia. He was a slaveholder, but was nonetheless one of the leaders in the Republican Party in Kentucky. He fought for the Union in the Civil War, and rose to the rank of Colonel. After the war, he was a Kentucky state senator, Republican National Committee member, and served as minister to Belgium under President Rutherford B. Hayes. He was murdered in a feud with another official, who pulled a gun on him in a post office and shot him. Goodloe forwarded the clemency request directly to Lincoln, who was, of course, a fellow Kentuckian. On the verso of Wasson’s letter, Goodloe wrote, “Application for the release of Charles C. Wasson from the McLean Barracks, as he is under age.” It is signed W.C. Goodloe.

Lincoln might have been expected to deal harshly with one of Morgan’s marauders. But his clemency and kindness are central to his legacy and his legend. So instead he issued this pardon. Autograph endorsement signed, Washington, January 25, 1865, “Let this man take the oath of Dec. 8, 1863 & be discharged.”

This an interesting memento of Lincoln’s legendary leniency from the last few months of the war, and is quite uncommon in that generally orders for pardon like this have become separated from the requests. This one, with the original request still present, allows us to reconstruct the entire interesting story.