J. Seymour to Abraham Lincoln

To His Excellency

Abraham Lincoln

President of the U.S.

We the undersigned having learned that the office of Commissary General is vacant beg leave to recommend the appointment of William K Strong Esqr. of this City, as being eminently qualified, possessing Energy, ability and integrity, and enjoying the fullest confidence of this community.

We are satisfied that Mr Strongs appointment would prove entirely satisfactory to the commercial and financial interests of this City.

New York August 28 - 1861.

J. Seymour. Presd Bank North America 1,000,000

E. J. Brown " Manhattan Saving Bk 2,794,934

Daniel [Bentnett?] " Citizens Bank 400,000

Jos. M. Price " Oriental Bank 300,000

B. Lewis Jr. " Butchers & Drovers " 800,000

Shephard Knapp " Mechanics " 2,000,000

J. M. Morrison " Manhattan Co. 2,050,000

James M Lewis, Cashr, Union Bank 1,500,000

C. Barstow Presd St Nicholas Bank 750,000

J Punnett " Bank of American 3,000,000

M M Freeman " Mecc & Bkg Association 500,000

Nathl Hayden " Chatham Bank 450,000

T. Tileston " Phoenix " 1,800,000

A. E Silliman " Merchants " 2,769,950

James F. De Peyster, Treasr Bk for Savings " 10,062,616

Thomas Monahan Presd Fulton Bk 600,000

H Blydenburgh " Nasson " 1,000,000

Charles A Macy " Park " 2,000,000

J L Everitt Cashier Broadway Bank 1,000,000

A. V. Stout Presdt Shoe & Leather " 1,500,000

Richard Berry " Tradesmens " 1,000,000

A B Hayes Cashr North River " 400,000

James Barnes Presd Merchants Exch. " 1,235,000

W. H Johnson " Hanover " 1,000,000

W. A Murdock " Continental " 2,000,000

Joseph Lawrence " U.S. Trust Co 1,000,000

Edward Haight " Bank Commonwealth 750,000

Thomas Jeremiah " Bowery Savings Bk 10,294,995

Charles Jenkins " East River Bk 206,525

Abram Ives " Manr & Mchts Bk 500,000

Andrew Warner Cashr Mchts Clerks Savings Ins. 2,103,285

Charles F Hunter Presdt Peoples Bank 412,500

Daniel V. H. Berthalf, Cashr Irving Bank 500,000

D K Martin Presdt Ocean Bank 1,000,000

J. D. Fish " Marine " 664,200

P. Perit Seaman Bank Savings 8,922,634 Presdt Marine Savings Ins.

A.P. Halsey " Bank of New York 3,000,000

R M Blatchford Presdt Central Park -----

Hiram Barney Collector of the Port -----

Rufus F Andrews, Surveyor of the Port ----

George Denison, Naval Officer of the Port -----

Wm B. Taylor Post Master N.Y. -----

Demming Duer, [illegible] J G King's Sons -----

Andrew H Green, Comptroller Central Park -----

Saml B White, Cashier Grocers Bk. 300,000

E. W. Dunham Presdt Corn Exch. Bk 1,000,000

Wm Halsey " 7th Ward " 500,000

Richard S. Williams " Market " 1,000,000

R W. R. Freeman Cashr Atlantic " 400,000

Moses H Grinnell, Presd Sun Mutual Ins Co. 1,761,222.07

E D Morgan & Co Bankers -----

George T Adee --- -----

Wm E Dodge (Phelps Dodge & Co) -----

G. A. Latimer Brooklyn Savings Bank 3,681,339

$79,909,200.07

Wm E Dodge (Phelps Dodge &Co)

G. A. Latimer Brooklyn Savings Bank 3,681,339

$79,909,200.07

To the President of the United States

We the undersigned, residing or doing business in the City of New York, being deeply interested in the success of the war for the Union and anxious to see every practicable method adopted for increasing the efficiency of our Army, beg leave to call your attention to the imperative necessity of placing the office of Commissary General, in the most competent and energetic hands, since upon its effective administration, must depend in a great degree the health, comfort and efficiency of our brave troops

Believing that a change in the incumbent of this position would be conducive to the welfare of the Army and the success of the Government, in suppression of armed rebellion, the undersigned do cordially recommend for that appointment their fellow citizen William K Strong, a merchant of great business capacity of enlarged views, of extraordinary physical and mental vigor, and of undoubted patriotism.

We believe he would give to the Commissary Department a degree of usefulness and efficiency hitherto unknown, and we therefore respectfully urge his appointment

New York August 28 - 1861

Charles J Martin, Presd Home Ins. Co. 1,000,000

Geo. T Hope Presd Continental Ins. Co. 500,000

Carlisle Norwood " Lorillard " " 500,000

James Lorimer Graham " Metropolitan " " 300,000

J Leonard Douglass Secty Merchants " " 200,000

Joseph Hoxie Presd Commonwealth " 250,000

Tim. G Churchill " Columbia " 200,000

Robt. D Hart Secty Astor Fire Ins Co 150,000

W. K Lathrop " Washington " " 500,000

Wm A Thomson Presd Mercantile Fire " " 200,000

Jon D Steele " Niagara " 200,000

J M McLean " Citizens Fire Ins. " 150,000

W. P Palmer " Manhattan " 250,000

Saml T Skidmore " Howard " 250,000

Henry A Oakley Secty Howard " -------

W F Underhill " Peoples " 150,000

E W Crowell VP Phoenix " 200,000

Livingston Satterlee Sectry Aetna " 200,000

Lindley Murray Presd Empire City " 200,000

J M Halsted " American " 200,000

C F Uhlhorn " Resolute " 200,000

F. S. Winston " Mutual Life Ins Co 7,237,989.12

E A Stansbury Secty Metropolitan Ins Co ----

Phiny Freeman Actuary N.Y. Life " 2,004,857.53

J. D Jones Presd Atlantic Mutual " 6,646,292.01

Alfred Edwards " Pacific " 1,060,750.72

John A Parker V.P Great Western " 3,224,640.39

Danl Drake Smith Presd Commercial " 1,025,355

T B Satterthwaite " New York " 1,036,416.34

John S Tappan V.P. Union Mutual " 1,659,348.06

J P Tappan Presd Neptune " 488,099.55

Jacob Reese " Hope Ins " 200,000

H M Forrester " Broadway " 200,000

Mason Thompson " Irving " 200,000

W H Dusenburg Secty New Amsterdam " 200,000

John A Lugneer President Adriatic Ins Co 150,000

Asher Taylor " Market " 200,000

B. S Walcott Jr Secty Hanover " 200,000

J R St. John " Lamar " 300,000

Hugh Laing Presd Clinton " 250,000

N B Graham " Firemans Fund " 150,000

A W Whipple V.P. Washington Marine " 275,318.49

Chas Newcomb " Mercantile Mutual " 1,140,973.17

Henry Stokes Manhattan Life Ins Co 1,039,820.96

$34,689,861.34

Recapitulation

Amount of Capital represented in first Memorial $79,909,200.07 Amount of Capital represented in second Memorial 34,689,861.34

$114,599,061.41

New York Septr 4 - 1861

Copies of the Memorials recommending to the President of the US. the appointment of Wm K Strong Esqr. as Commissary Genl with the amount of capitals, assetts & deposits of different corporations, the officers of which have signed

New York Sep 4 - 1861