Letter of John E. Tallon M.D. to Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress. Transcribed and Annotated by the Lincoln Studies Center, Knox College. Galesburg, Illinois.

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From John E. Tallon to Abraham Lincoln, December 26, 1863

Donaldsonville

—La—

Dec 26. 1863

Honrble Sir,

I presume to write to you because I have always found it best to write to "Fountain Head"

1st The Coloured Population on the Government plantations¹ are in a most deplorable condition—they have no blankets—no clothing—half starved—not a single blanket has come this year—They are truly miserable—As I am the Government Physician for those poor creatures, I make this communication to you "in confidence and confide in your honor because if it known or discovered that I wrote the above, Iwould immediately lose my situation—I most respectfully recommend old Dr. E. C. Hyde 219 Tchoupitoulas Street New Orleans—as a most proper man to inspect the Government Plantations and to report to the Government—Dr. Hyde is well off in the world—is most zealous for the coloured population—and loyal to the Republican Administration in the highest degree—I beseech Your Excellency to enquire into those matters and when you find that old Dr. Hyde is the man I represent him to be, to appoint him with full power to remedy abuses—

[Note 1 According to General Orders No. 331, issued on October 9, 1863, property abandoned by rebels was placed under the control of the Treasury Department. A War Department circular issued on October 27, 1863 gave Treasury agents the authority to lease abandoned property to former slaves. Lincoln was not satisfied with the Treasury Department's administration of the government plantations and in February 1864 he gave the responsibility to Lorenzo Thomas. See Official Records, Series III, Volume 3, 872, 939 - 40 and Collected Works, VII, 212.]

2nd Captain Rudgers the Provost Marshall at Napoleonville has been removed out of Napoleonville at the instigations of the Masters there upon various charges—on last Thursday when riding up from General Martin's Plantation where I went to visit the sick coloured people, I learned at Napoleonville the true state of the Case—Captain Rudgers was accused of "giving the "niggers" too much liberty"—that a nigger's oath is "now as good as a white man's since this Provost Marshall" arrived—that he "raises hell among the niggers"—that he is ultra—and that he reproves the Planters in defense of the coloured people &c—that he is "no favorite with citizens of Napoleonville because of giving so much liberty to the niggers"—To speak truly, he is hated because he is a benevolent, and a true hearted man—I do most respectfully entreat of your Excellency to have him again restored to Napoleonville and to cause Mr Foley—Madme Ratcliffe and other Rebel notabilities of Napoleonville, to take your new oath—²

[Note 2 "New oath" is a reference to the loyalty oath in Lincoln's December 8, 1863 Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction. A draft of the proclamation is in this collection.]

3rd There is a class of persons at New Orleans &c called "British Subjects" who profess Neutrality with their tongues but in heart and in acts—and in every way favor the Rebels—Put a clause in the alien oath against Slavery, if they refuse to take it, let them be sent over the lines—

4th I most respectfully ask Your Excellency—to cause enquiry into the anticedents of persons holding Government situations at New Orleans—&c if they ever held appointments from the Rebels—or were well known rebels previous to obtaining those situations, let them be dismissed

5th The Roman Catholic Clergy of Louisiana generally, I believe are Rebels at heart,—and posess great influence in giving advice—I beseech and entreat your Excellency to oblige all of them to take the New oath and to have them sworn before the coming elections take place—Remember to do so, it is for the Cause of God and liberty; if any clergyman refuse, he is allied with Satan—and aught to be sent to Ship Island with a ball and chain—

I again beseech and entreat Your Excellency not to forget the cause of the poor colored people on the Government Plantations—and also to inquire appoint Dr. E. C. Hyde 219. Tchoupitoulas St. New Orleans—to go round on all the Government plantations and to report the real state of things to the Government—let him have power to remedy abuses—oblige him to go in person and allow no deputy in his stead—

Trusting Your Excellency will forgive this great liberty I remain from my heart your most respectful and most devoted adherent as well as of the venerated "Republican Party" to whom may God grant a perpetual election—as well as success in their most noble cause

John. E. Tallon M. D

A. A. Surgeon in the U. S. Army and Government Physician for the sick coloured pop contrabands! at Donaldsonville and vicinity—

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