The following letter addressed to President Abraham Lincoln was penned by U. S. Representative George Helm Yeaman (1829-1908) of Kentucky who served in the 38th US Congress. Yeaman was elected as a Unionist to the 37th Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of James S. Jackson. He was reelected to the 38th Congress and served from December 1, 1862, to March 3, 1865. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1864 to the 39th Congress. As depicted in the recent movie “Lincoln,” he is best remembered for having provided the critical vote for passing the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution abolishing slavery through the U.S. House of Representatives.

Yeaman’s letter is brief, forwarding the names of nine Kentuckians for their release from prison under the Amnesty Oath. Lincoln’s Amnesty Oath of 1863 was a loyalty pledge created as part of his Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction on December 8, 1863. It offered clemency to most Confederates if they swore to uphold the U.S. Constitution, protect the Union, and accept the abolition of slavery.

[Editor’s Note: This letter is from the personal collection of Al Niemiec and was offered for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.]

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Stationery of the 38th Congress
House of Representatives
Washington City
February 27, 1865

Sir,

I recommend the release, under the Amnesty Oath, of the following prisoners.

Seraiah Lashbrook, Co. A, 1st Kentucky Cavalry, Camp Morton
Gustavus Johnston, Co. G, 4th Kentucky Infantry, Camp Douglas

Very Respectfully, your obedient servant, — Geo. H. Yeaman

To The President

Also the following, February 28, 1865

William C. Johnson, Kentucky Prison 3, Camp Chase
James H. Cottrell, Kentucky, Camp Douglas
Augustus I[gnatius] Moore, [Co. B, 9th KY Mounted Cavalry; held at Camp Chase since 31 July 1864; released 18 March 1865] Kentucky Prison 3, Camp Chase

John Blanford, 10th Kentucky Cavalry, Co. I, Camp Chase
Edmund T. Guthrie, Co. F, 13th Kentucky Cavalry, Camp Chase
Benjamin F. Williams, Kentucky, Camp Chase
Benjamin Huston, Kentucky, Camp Douglas

Very respectfully, — Geo. H. Yeaman, Feb. 28, 1865