Abraham Lincoln papers From David L. Philips to Henry W. Halleck, March 19, 1862 Springfield, March 19th 1862. Sir: 1 Major Mason Brayman, of the theRegiment Illinois Volunteers, Assistant Adjutant General to Major Genl. McClernand, who proved himself a brave and gallant officer at Belmont and Fort Donelson, has become enfeebled by sickness and the arduous duties of his position, and desires some place which will not task his physical system like active service in the field. Major Brayman aided largely in the original organization of Genl. McClernand's Brigade, and has most laboriously performed the duties of his post to the present time. 1 ID: Mason Brayman, a journalist, editor and lawyer, settled in Illinois in 1842 and was appointed by Governor Ford as a commissioner to help settle the Mormon troubles. Brayman wrote the introduction to the 1845 edition of the Illinois Revised Statutes and worked as general solicitor of the Illinois Central Railroad. At the outbreak of the Civil War Brayman was made a major in the 29th Illinois and was the regiment's colonel by 1862. After seeing action at Fort Donelson and Shiloh, Brayman was appointed a brigadier general of volunteers in September 1862 and spent the remainder of the war as a post commander in Ohio, Tennessee and Mississippi. He has, for great many years past, resided in Ills. Compiled our Illinois Statutes in 1845, was for some years Solicitor in Chief for the Illinois Central Railroad Company, and has been largely interested with the railroad interests of the Country. He is a man of Superior talents and Sagacity, Laborious and methodical in business, and now quite trained in military affairs. It would be, to our whole people, a matter of much gratification if you would make him post Commandant of Cairo Ills. Being a good lawyer, of age, dignity and great urbanity of manners, he would give great satisfaction, I think, to all. He is a moderate democrat — always has been, — a man of unquestioned loyalty, understands fully Southern Ill. and Southeastern Missouri, and would be able to do much that a Stranger could not.— Abraham Lincoln papers http://www.loc.gov/resource/mal.1514900 I beg your pardon for this seeming impertinence, I do most fully approve of all your operations, and hope you may, in the future, be as successful as in the past.— Your Obt. Servt. D. L. Phillips U. S. Marshall Abraham Lincoln papers http://www.loc.gov/resource/mal.1514900.