After the campaign of 1854-55, Mr. Merwin's friendship with Lincoln continued without a break up to the latter's assassination. Soon after the commencement of the war, Mr. Merwin's unceasing advocacy of the great reform won him personal recognition, and it was suggested by prominent military men that he should be officially appointed, and be permitted the freedom of the camps in the interests of personal temperance work, need of which was widely evident. What President Lincoln and Generals Scott and Butler wrote on the back of the recommendation, as endorsements, is here given. Mr. Merwin has the original manuscript: "If it be ascertained at the War Department that the President has legal authority to make an appointment such as is asked within, and Gen. Scott is of opinion it will be available for good, then let it be done. "July 17, 1861. A. LINCOLN." "I esteem the mission of Mr. Merwin to this army a happy circumstance, and request all commanders to give him free access to all our camps and posts, and also to multiply occasions to enable him to address our officers and men. WINFIELD SCOTT, "July 24, 1861. _Department of Virginia._" "The mission of Mr. Merwin will be of great benefit to the troops, and I will furnish him with every facility to address the troops under my command. I hope the Gen'l commanding the army will give him such official position as Mr. Merwin may desire to carry out his object. "August 8, 1861. B. F. BUTLER, _Maj-Gen. Com'd'g._" The testimonial to the warm appreciation of Mr. Merwin's usefulness in the army as a temperance worker is signed by Isaac N. Arnold, O. H. Browning, Charles Sumner, Alexander W. Randall, W. A. Buckingham, Richard Yates, James Harlan, Alexander Ramsey, A. B. Palmer, John F. Potter, J. L. Scripps, Lyman Trumbull, Henry Wilson, J. R. Doolittle, Austin Blair, Thomas Drummond, James W. Grimes, Samuel J. Kirkwood, Timothy O. Howe, David Wilmot, and more than one hundred others. They comprise those of governors, senators, congressmen, and postmasters. In 1862, President Lincoln again wrote a special order to facilitate his work at the front, as follows, the original still being in Mr. Merwin's possession: "Surgeon General will send Mr. Merwin wherever he may think the public service may require. "July 24, 1862. A. LINCOLN." Throughout the war Mr. Merwin was in close personal touch with the nation's executive, and had a passport, given him by Mr. Lincoln, which admitted him to the White House at any time, day or night, except during the session of the cabinet. On the day of his assassination the President had Mr. Merwin to dine with him, and that afternoon sent him on an important mission to New York.