Lincoln Abraham

President Lincoln Asks New Adjutant General to Allow Italian-American Junior Officer to Return to Army

ABRAHAM LINCOLN, Autograph Letter Signed, to Lorenzo Thomas, May 10, 1861, Washington, D.C. 1 p., 5" x 8". Browned from earlier framing, mounting remnant on verso, vertical crease with short separations at top and bottom margins.

Complete Transcript:

Executive Mansion

May 10, 1861

Adjutant General

My dear Sir

Mr V Pullizzi, as I understand, was once in the regular Army, and resigned under some charges, of which you probably know more than I do. He now wishes to re-enter the Army; and if it violates no rule of law or propriety I shall be glad for him to be obliged in that respect.

Yours very truly,

A. Lincoln

Historical Background:

In this brief letter, President Lincoln requests his new adjutant general to allow Venerando Pulizzi Jr. (1835-1905) to re-enter the army. Pulizzi received a commission as a second lieutenant in the army in June 1855, and was well-known to be, “though young, a remarkably competent drill officer.” Within three months, Pulizzi got into an altercation in Charleston, South Carolina, on his way to duty in Florida, when local Charlestonians attacked him for his friendly manner with his African American servant. Secretary of War Jefferson Davis ordered that charges be brought against Pulizzi, and Pulizzi resigned.

Pulizzi was reinstated with the rank of first lieutenant on May 14, 1861. He resigned again on September 9, 1861, while stationed in Boston. In 1906, authorities rejected his widow’s application for a pension because of the brevity of his Civil War service.

Pulizzi’s father, Venerando Pulizzi Sr. (ca. 1792-1852), had been enlisted in Sicily by the American navy, along with his father, uncle, little brother, and fourteen other Italian musicians to form a “Band of Music” for the Marine Corps. They participated in the war with Tripoli aboard the USS President and arrived in Washington, D.C. in September 1805, where they were assimilated into the United States Marine Band. Pulizzi became Fife Major in 1812 and served as leader of the U.S. Marine Band briefly in 1816-1817 and then again from 1818 to 1827. Pulizzi and the Marine Band furnished music for the Marquis de Lafayette’s visits to Washington in 1824 and 1825. Pulizzi left the band and received a promotion to Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps in 1832 and served at its headquarters until his death.

Lorenzo Thomas (1804-1875) was born in Delaware and graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1823. He fought in the Seminole War in Florida, and while serving in the Mexican War, he was the chief of staff to General William O. Butler. From 1853 to 1861, Thomas held the position of chief of staff for Winfield Scott, commanding general of the U.S. Army. On March 7, 1861, Thomas received a promotion to colonel and appointment as adjutant general of the U.S. Army. He held the position of adjutant general until he retired in 1869, except for a special assignment to recruit African American troops in the Military Division of the Mississippi from 1863 to 1865. In March 1866, he received promotion to brevet major general in the regular army. In February 1868, President Andrew Johnson attempted to replace Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton by appointing Thomas as Secretary of War ad interim.

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